<f ' 


\x     I 


THE 


BUSHRANGERS. 


%  f  unlue's  l^ttenhues 


DURING  HIS   SECOND  VISIT  TO   AUSTRAIJA 


BY 


WILLIAM    H.  THOMES, 

'A  BKTUBNED  AUSTRALIAN."     AUTHOR  OF  "THE  GOLD  HUNTER'S 
ADVENTURES,  OR  LIFE  IN  AUSTRALIA,"  ETC.,  ETC. 


CHICAGO: 
DONNELLEY,    LOYD    &   CO.,    PUBLISHERS, 

1883. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 

LEE    &    SHEPARD, 

Ib  the  Clerk'8  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massacfausett*. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

FAMI 

TbeYanLse  and  his  Quartz  Crusher.  — A  Start  for  Australia.  .      ...     9 

CHAPTER    11. 
We  arrive  at  Melbourne,  and  meet  old  Friends •      •      .    U 

CHAPTER    III. 
The  stolen  Diamonds.  —  The  lovely  Bar-maid  and  her  Father.        •      •      •    27 

CHAPTER    IV. 
The  Prize-fighter  and  his  Dausrhter.  —  The  Row.  —  The  Signal.      .      .      .    8« 

CHAPTER    V. 
Mrs.  Trotter's  Castle *5 

CHAPTER     VI. 
The  Exploration.  — The  Quarrel  and  the  Murder M 

CHAPTER    VII. 

The  lost  Diamonds  recovered.—  The  Escape.  —  The  sudden  Alarm.  —  The 
unpleasant  Position.  —  Eez  plays  the  "  Injun."  — The  Pet  and  his  strong 
Arm W 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

An' Escape  from  the  Pet.  — The  Pursuit.  —  The  Jolly  Sailors.  —  The  Arrest 
and  Discharge 87 

CHAPTER    IX. 
flez  and  his  Feelings.  —  The  fat  Porter  and  the  Page.  — The  Governor'*. 


Wife. 


CHAPTER    X. 

The  Governor  and  his  Wife.  —  A  strong  Pull  for  a  Commission.      .      .      .    S 

(3) 


MriVruia 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

The  Bed  Lion.  —  Miss  Jenny  and  her  Temper.  —  Her  Warniugs.  — Arrival 
of  the  Pet M 

CHAPTER    XII. 
The  Red  Lion.  —  A  desperate  Struggle '  .      .      •      •     M 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
*1»2  Keaaji^ —  rSie  Accusation  of  Miss  Jenny.'— The  Despatch.     .     .      .    iOl 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

The  first  Hunt  for  Bu  shrangers.  —  Webber  and  his  Family.  —  The  sleep- 
ing Tramp 109 

CHAPTER    XV. 
A.  suspicious  Sleeper The  Meeting  in  the  Bush. 114 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Webber  and  his  Guest.  —  The  Pursuit.  —  The  Escape.  —  The  stolen  Horses.    119 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Lost  in  the  "Woods.— My  Horse's  Death.  — Night  and  Mosquitos.  —  An 
unwelcome  Bedfellow 124 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 
4.  Night  on  the  Mountain.  —  A  strange  Meeting.  —  The  Cave.       .      ,      .    131 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

The  unexpected  Arrival.  —  The  Concealment. —  In  a  tight  Place.  .     .      .    138 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Face  to  Face.—  The  Struggle.  —  The  Compact.  —  The  Surprise.  —  "  Death 
U)  the  Spy." lil 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

mother  Brown  and  her  Friendship.  —  The  Disguise.  — An  Attempt  to 
escape 161 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
kn  old  Acquaintance.  —  The  Pursuit. — Bushrangers  and  their  Conjciences.    157 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 
4  poor  Shot  —  A  freed  Fugitive. — An  old  Friend.  —  The  Kiss  of  Welfome.    163 


CONTENTS.  d 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

An  Australian  Farmer's  Experience.  —  His  Wife  and  Family.—  Bushran- 
gers in  Pursuit. —  Barricaded 161 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

A  Skirmish  with  the  Bushrangers.  —  Our  Defence.  —  Attempt  to  I  urn  the 
House 173 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

A  rri  val  of  Murden  and  his  Men.  —  Great  Joy  of  Kopeful.  —  The  Fire  sub 
dued.  —  Change  of  Mind 17* 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

Dead  Bushrangers.  —  Hopeful  and  Amelia. —  A  Warning. —  Old  Love 
forgotten IM 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

A  Coquette  at  Work.— A  jealous  Lover. —  An  attempted  Murder.  — An 
Alarm 191 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Moloch  in  a  Fit.  —  His  Disappearance.  -  A  close  Shot.  —  Preparations  for 
a  Tramp liW 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

An  Expedition.  —  Crossing  the  Valley  by  Night.  —  A  Confession.  —  Point 
Lookout.  —  The  Sentinels aOT 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

An  Attempt  to  extort  a  Conx'ession.  —  The  Perils  of  Travelling  in  Austra- 
lia.—  A  Surprise 213 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 

The  Robber's  Death.  —  Bushrangers  surprised.- The  Attack  and  Flight. 
—  Murden's  Alarm 218 

CHAPTER    XXXIII. 
Rescue  of  an  English  Baronet.  —  His  Adventures —  A  strange  Sight.      .    221 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 
M  c  1  her  Brown's  Mystery .      A  Search  for  Gold.  —  A  terrible  Surprise.     .    2M 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 

A  Visit  from  Keeler.  —  He  is  urgent  for  our  Company.  —  Doings  at  Point 
Lookout 232 

CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

An  unexpected  Visitor,  but  a  pleasant  One. —  The  Treasure. —  A  great 

Surprise. 240 

1  • 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

Ml88  Jenny  and  her  Position.  —  As  handsome  and  vulgar  as  ever.       .       .    24* 

CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 
h  Coquette's  Contempt.  —  The  Disappearance.  —  Amelia  and  Moloch.       .    252 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 
The  Abduction.  —  A  Native  on  the  Trail.  —  The  Pursuit.  .....    250 

CHAPTER    XL. 

The  Pursuit.  — Bridge  of  Salt.— Mysterious  Sounds.— A-Uigators  and 
their  Attacks.  —  An  Escape 26fi 

CHAPTER    XLI. 

Perilous  Position.  —  Escape  from  Alligators.— On  Foot.— A  Western 
Man  in  Australia.  —  He  joins  u« 272 

CHAPTER    XLII. 

A  tedious  Tramp.  — An  unexpected  Enemy.  — A  strange  Sight.  — Ser- 
pents in  Pursuit.  —  A  Fight 277 

CHAPTER    XLIIl. 

Moloch  and  his  Victim.  —  He  explains  Matters.  —  Negotiations.  —  Failure. 
—  We  raise  the  Siege 287 

CHAPTER    XLIV. 
Gloomy  Prospect.  — A  bright  Light. —  Friends  or  Foes? 294 

CHAPTER    XLV. 

On  the  Trail.  — A  young  Girl's  Distress.  — A  Ruffian's  Threats.  —  For- 
ward to  the  Rescue 301 

CHAPTER    XLVI. 

On  the  Mountain.  — Amelias  Grief.  — She  demands  Vengeance.  —  Prepa- 
rations for  Hanging S07 

CHAPTER     XLVII. 

The  Hanging.  —  An  Interruption.  —  The    Tables    turned.  —  Escape   of 
Amelia.  —  A  Tableau 314 

CHAPTER    XLVIII. 
A.n  unexpecte(^Tumble.-  —  The  Rescue.  —  A  private  Conversation.     .      .    32fl 

CHAPTER    XLIX. 
A.  tiresome  Ride.  —  Arrival  at  the  Station.  —  Departure  for  Melbourne,     .    82* 


CONTENTS.  7 

♦         CHAPTER    L. 

A.  Kow  at  the  Red  Lion.  —  A  Baronet  in  Danger.  —  To  the  Reswie. — The 
Pet  knocked  out  of  Time 33i 

CHAPTER    LI. 
Ten  Minutes  in  Jail.— A  belligerent  Cabman.  —  A  Fight  and  Knock-down,    338 

CHAPTER    LII. 
M  Other  Brown's  Pardon.  —  Her  Confession.  —  My  Astonishment.  .    343 

CHAPTER,  LIII. 

The  Baronet's  Confc8«?ion.  —  A  Comparing  of  Notes.  —  The  lost  Child,— 
A  Tableau 348 

CHAPTER    LIV. 

Ji^planalions.  —  Mother  Brown  and  Tom.  —  An  Interview  with  the  Bar- 
onet  355 

CHAPTER    LV. 
Mother  Brown's  Confession.  —  The  stolen  Child.  —  The  Lock?  of  Hair,    .    362 

CHAPTER    LVI. 
J'reparations  for  an  Arrest.  —  The  Pet  on  the  Watch.  —  Bad  News.     ,      ,    368 

CHAPTER    LVII. 
A  sudden  Disappearance.  —  The  Pursuit 372 

CHAPTER    LVIII. 
The  Hunt  for  the  Baronet's  Daughter.  —  A  Midnight  Adventure.  .     .      ,375 

CHAPTER    LIX. 
M I  eting  an  old  Friend.  —  A  disagreeable  Surprise. —  A  Council  of  War.    .    380 

CHAPTER    LX. 

lu  Pursuit.  — A  Surprise.  — A  Blow  on  the  Head.  — The  Conference.— 
A  Prisoner. —  A  few  Remarks  by  Miss  Jenny. — Her  Visit  and  Assist- 
ance  ibS 

CHAPTER    LXI. 

A  momentous  Question.— A  terrible  Struggle .TOg 

CHAPTER   LXII. 

Tlic  Haunted  Station.  —  No  One  at  Home.  —  Perseverance  of  a  Blue  :Man. 
—  iu  Sigh: 403 

2 


S  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    LXIII. 
A  a  important  Capture.  —  The  Pet's  Regrets. —Jenny  and  Mad  Dick.   .     .    40* 

CHAPTER    LXIV. 

M.:il  Pick  makes  Proposals.  — A  scornful  Kejection.  —  Violence.  —  To  the 
KcKcue. 41? 

CHAPTER    LXV. 
A  n  agreeable  Surprise.  —  Father  and  Daughter.  —  The  Pet's  Regrets         .    424 

CHAPTER    LXVI. 
A  in  tie  Love.  —  A  few  Explanations,  and  a  Tableau 43.3 

CHAPTER    LXVIl. 
A  Life  for  a  Life 44i( 

CHAPTER    LXVIII. 
A  private  Conference.  — A  plain  Talk.  — A  stern  Refusal 4  is 

CHAPTER    LXIX. 

( 'a  the  Tramp.— A  wonderful  Lake.  —  A  warm  Recojiiiou 158 

CHAPTER     LXX. 
A  wonderful  1  iki-.  —  The  Quartz  Crushers.  —  A  Separation 4«4 

(CHAPTER    LXXI. 
(jkuerai  Krcut^  —  Uabty  W'eddlngs.  —  Conclusion ers 


THE  BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


1EF.    YANKEE    AND    HIS    QUARTZ    CRUSHElv.  A    START    FOR 

AUSTRALIA. 

Heaven  only  knows  what  sent  me  to  Australia  the  second 
4ime.  I  Was  v<iry  comfortable  in  Boston,  for  I  had  money, 
and  it  was  sftfely  invested.  I  had  friends,  or  rather  those 
who  professe4  to  be  such.  I  had  pleasant  rooms,  and  a  pair 
of  fast  houses  ;  and  men  said  that  I  was  a  lucky  dog,  and 
deserved  my  good  fortune,  and  I  have  no  doubt  they  were 
sincere  in  fcheir  expressions.  But  still  I  was  not  happy -oi 
contented.  I  missed  the  dear  companion  who  had  travelled 
with  me  iv>  California,  and  starved  and  suffered,  prospered 
and  grown  rich,  in  Australia. 

In  my  first  series  of  Australian  sketches,*  I  spoke  of  the 
sudden  f^/^ath  of  my  friend  Frederick ;  and  after  his  decease 
I  don't  ^hink  that  I  felt  as  though  I  could  settle  down  and 
remain  a  quiet  citizen,  although  I  strove  to  do  so,  and  made 
^]esp<^rj»te  attempts  to  convince  myself  that  I  was  happy. 
But  aU  in  vain.  I  found  that  my  thoughts  would  revert  to 
\usfcralia,  its  gold  mines,  its  immense  prairies,  extensive 
iheep  pastures  and  flocks  of  sheep,  its  sharp  business  men, 
desperate  convicts,  savage  bushrangers,  and  roving  police, 
and  with  the  latter  I  numbered  some  friends ;  for  had  we 
not  witnessed  many  a  battle,  and  defeated  some  of  the  most 
desperate  bands  that  roved  the  plains,  and  lived  on  mutton 
when  it  could  be  obtained,  and  starved  when  it  was  scarce  ? 

•The  Gold  Hunter's  Adventures;  or,  Life  in  Australia.    J  VoL 
\2  mo.    4  IlluBtrations.     Published  by  Lee  &  Shepard.     18»J5, 

(9) 


10  THE    BUSHRANGERS. 

All  these  tilings  came  to  my  mind,  and  I  longed  for  » 
renewal  of  my  adventurous  life  ;  and  yet  I  struggled  in  secret 
against  the  fate  which  would  consign  me  to  danger,  priva- 
tions, and  innumerable  hardships.  I  thought  of  the  clouds 
of  blinding  dust  which  drive  the  inhabitants  of  Australia 
frantic  as  it  S]ls  their  eyes,  noses,  ears,  and  mouths,  and 
4tiirns  the  <? tin  cf  the  face  like  caustic  T  recollected  the  wet 
•  winfeersv  when  r;i ill  falls  as  though  rivers  in  the  clouds  had 
.'broken  loose,  and  were  determined  to  sweep  away  all  vestige 
of  land;  the  piercing  cold  which  is  encountered  on  the 
mountains ;  the  mud ;  the  snakes  ;  the  millions  of  insects, 
which  drive  sleep  from  the  eyes  of  the  tender-skinned  ;  and, 
remembering  all  this,  I  still  felt  as  though  I  must  once  more 
visit  Australia. 

When  I  mentioned  the  subject  to  my  friends,  they  laughed 
at  the  idea.  One  of  them  advised  me  to  marry  a  nice  girl 
and  settle  down ;  another  said  that  he  knew  a  lady  who  would 
suit  me.  After  an  introduction,  I  found  that  the  prediction 
was  false  ;  so  I  gave  up  all  thoughts  of  matrimony,  for  I  was 
convinced  that  my  affinity  and  I  had  never  met,  and  that  1 
must  search  for  her  if  I  desired  a  wife. 

But  still  I  had  not  fully  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would 
return  to  Australia,  until,  one  day,  I  was  seated  in  the  office 
of  my  lawyer,  when  who  should  enter  but  a  thin,  wiry,  sharp- 
eyed  man,  with  a  freckled  face  and  sandy  hair,  clothes  clean 
Irat  stout  and  coarse,  and  hands  which  looked  as  though 
accustomed  to  toil! 

"  I  want  to  see,"  he  said,  in  tones  peculiar  to  certain  dis- 
tricts in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  "  the  feller  what  writ 
ihem  ere  Australian  stories." 

lie  had  been  told,  it  seems,  that  I  might  possibly  be  fcuid. 
(licre.     He  continued, —  ^ 

"I've  a  notion  of  takin'  a  .trip  to  that  island,  whar  the 
gold  is  so  plenty  that  a  feUer  can  make  a  fortin  in  no  time  ; 
BO  I  want  to  see  the  feller  what  wrote  them  stories,  and  get 
his  'pinion  on  a  machine  what  I've  built,  which  I  s'pect  will 
chaw  up  more  quartz  and  spit  out  more  gold  than  anything 
^hat  ever  was  built  in  these  ere  United  States  of  Amereky." 


THE  YANKEE  AND  HIS  QUARTZ  CRUSHER.  \\ 

The  lawyer  pointed  to  me,  and  tlie  visitor  turned  round 
with  a  stare  df  astonishment. 

"You  don't  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  are  the  feller  what 
dag  all  that  gold  out  there,  and  had  sich  high  old  times  with 
the  bushrangers  ;  do  you  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  I  am  the  person,"  I  replied. 

"  Wal,  I'll  be  darned  if  you  ain't  the  man  I  want  to  see, 
and  no  mistake.  I'm  glad  to  shake  hands  with  sich  a  feUei 
as  you ;  now  that's  a  fact." 

He  gave  my  hand  a  squeeze  that  proved  most  conclusively 
he  possessed  enormous  strength,  but  at  the  same  time  the 
man's  freckled  face  lighted  up  with  such  genuine  satisfac* 
tion  that  I  began  to  feel  glad  at  having  met  the  fellow. 

"  Now,"  continued  the  countryman,  "  will  you  jist  take  & 
look  at  my  machine,  and  see  if  it's  good  for  anything  ?  I 
reckon  it  is  ;  and  so  does  some  fellers  that  has  seen  it ;  but, 
then,  they  don't  know,  p'aps.  Will  you  come  with  me  for  a 
little  while,  and  jist  tell  me  what  you  think  my  crusher  will 
do  ? " 

"  Is  it  far  from  here  ? " 

"  No,  sir  ;  it's  jist  down  here,  in  a  room  what  I've  hired. 
I've  practised  with  it  for  a  month  or  two,  an'  it  goes  like 
thunder." 

"  By  steam  ?  " 

'*  Sartin  —  by  steam,"  was  the  answer. 

"  I  will  go  with  you,"  I  replied,  although  I  did  not  antici- 
pate much  of  a  treat ;  for  I  had  seen  hundreds  of  quartz- 
crushing  machines,  and  yet  never  met  with  but  half  a  dozen 
that  would  do  good  work  or  pay  for  the  material  used  in 
iheir  construction. 

We  passed  down  the  street  to  a  machine-shop,  and  in  a 
room  that  was  double  locked  I  saw  a  quartz  crusher  *hat  met 
my  ideas  of  what  was  required  for  the  work  it  had  to  per- 
form. I  cannot  describe  the  machine  without  illustrations, 
and  there  is  no  necessity  that  I  should  bother  the  readcf 
with  an  account  of  its  wheels  and  cogs,  hoppers  and  springs. 
£t  is  enough  if  I  state  that  it  reduced  paving-stones  to  pow- 
ier,  filtered  the  latter  through  a  sieve,  and  left  a  few  grains 


12  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

of  gold,  which  I  had  mixed  with  the  stones,  as  they  passed 
under  a  crusher,  in  a  receiver,  glistening  as  though  jiisf 
from  the  bowels  of  the  earth.  I  had  put  in  twenty  scales  of 
gold  dust.     I  took  out  the  same  number. 

'*  Wal,"  asked  my  Yankee  friend,  "  what  do  you  think 
of  it  ? " 

"  It  is  a  good  machine,  and  will  do  just  the  right  kind  of 
^ork.     In  Australia  a  fortune  can  be  made  with  it." 

"  1  rather  think  so,"  drawled  the  Yankee,  as  though  ho 
STBS  fearful  of  being  too  enthusiastic  on  the  subject ;  and  his 
calm,  calculating  gray  eyes  looked  thoughtful  as  he  surveyed 
the  machine  and  its  ponderous  jaws. 

"  Is  this  of  your  own  invention  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Wal,  I  reckon  it  is.  You  see,  I've  bin  a  sort  of  inventor 
all  my  life ;  and  arter  I'd  sold  the  patent  of  my  sassenger 
machine,  I  jist  thought  I'd  turn  my  'tention  to  a  quartz 
crusher.  I  heard  a  Californy  chap  describe  one,  and  I 
thought  I  could  improve  on  it.  I  worked  a  year  on  this 
thing,  and  here  it  is." 

"  And  now  what  do  you  propose  to  do  with  it  ?  " 

The  sandy-haired  genius  scratched  his  head  as  he  an- 
swered, — 

"  I've  put  all  my  money  in  the  thing,  and  now  I'm  pumped 
as  dry  as  a  yearlin'  heifer." 

I  looked  over  the  machine  once  more,  calculated  its 
enormous  strength,  and  its  capacity  for  work,  and  then  I 
Baid, — 

"  I  will  purchase  one  half  the  patent  right  of  the  quaitz 
crusher,  and  furnish  the  money  for  building  a  second  one j 
and  after  it  is  constructed  we  will  start  for  Australia,  an(* 
work  them  in  partnership." 

The  Yankee  seized  my  hand,  and  shook  it  in  an  enlha- 
feiastic  manner. 

*'  You're  the  man  I  has  been  lookin'  for !  "  he  cried. 
"  We'll  make  our  tarnal  fortunes  in  less  than  no  time,  arter 
we  has  once  got  near  a  ledge  of  rocks  what  contains  the 
right  kind  of  stuff.     But  you  is  in  arnest  r " 

"  I  am,  and  to  prove  it,  commence  work  on  the  second 


THE   YANKEE  AND  HIS  QUAKTZ  CRUSHER.  13 

machine  as  soon  as  possible ;  and  now  we  will  go  and  lool{ 
over  your  patent  and  make  out  the  papers." 

The  Yankee's  eyes  lighted  up  at  the  thought  of  making 
his  fortune. 

"  I'm  your  man,"  he  said.  "  If  we  don't  make  things 
howl  in  Australia,  then  it  ain't  no  matter ;  and  arter  we  get 
our  machine  in  workin'  order,  we'll  eat  the  island  up  but 
»\'e'U  find  gold  ;  "  from  which  remark  I  thought  +^at  he  enter- 
tained but  a  slight  idea  of  the  extent  of  Australia. 

"  Now  one  question  more,"  I  said,  as  we  left  the  building. 
"  Tell  me  your  name,  and  where  you  are  from." 

"Hezekiah  Hopeful,  of  Hillsborough  County,  New  Hamp- 
shire," was  the  prompt  answer. 

*'  Are  you  married  ?  " 

**  Get  eout !  "  was  the  bashful  reply.  "  No,  I  ain't  got  no 
wife,  but  I  has  a  gal,  and  when  I'm  rich  we'll  be  one,  but 
not  before,  if  I  knows  it." 

I  was  satisfied.  Once  in  Australia,  he  would  not  be  con- 
tinually moping  about  a  wife.  The  more  I  saw  of  the  man, 
the  better  I  liked  him.  He  was  a  rustic  genius,  with  courage 
and  fidelity,  and  I  thought  that  we  should  have  no  trouble  in 
performing  the  work  before  us. 

As  we  returned  to  the  office,  I  talked  with  Hopeful  about 
Australia,  and  found  him  a  good  listener ;  and  after  I  had 
concluded,  I  drew  from  him,  little  at  a  time,  —  for  he  was 
cautious  and  shy, — an  account  of  his  life,  how  he  had  invented, 
and  lost  money  by  the  operation,  until  he  was  compelled  to 
recruit  his  exhausted  finances  by  working  at  journey  work 
in  a  machine-shop.  His  father  had  left  him  a  few  thousand 
doUars  at  the  time  of  his  death  ;  this  was  gone,  and  some 
hundreds  with  it,  and  yet  Hopeful  assured  me  that  he  had 
invented  some  useful  articles,  such  as  the  "  Patent  Flying 
Clothes  Horse,"  "  The  Enlightened  Mouse  Trap,"  "  The  En- 
chanted Wash  Tub,"  "  The  Baby's  Delight,"  a  sort  of  swing, 
on  the  perpetual-motion  order,  so  that  mothers  could  leave 
their  pets  for  some  hours  without  trouble. 

All  of  these  inventions  Hopeful  said  were  patented,  but 
he  did  not  hold  the  tights,  on  account  of  his  being  compelled 


14  '  THE  BUSHRANGERS 

fco  sell  as  soon  as  completed,  for  tlie  want  of  money,  althcugh 
my  new-fonnd  friend  acknowledged  that  some  p&rties  had 
made  fortunes  through  his  aid. 

"  But  they  don't  come  it  any  more,  I'll  be  goll  darned  if 
they  do,"  cried  Hopeful,  with  an  angry  gesture.  "  If  my 
quartz  crusher  works  like  all  thunder,  and  gobbles  up  the 
gold  and  spits  it  out  like  fun,  I  shall  make  somethin'  out  of 
it;  shan't  I?" 

"  A  fortune,  I  hope,"  I  answered. 

"  Is  we  goin'  into  the  thing  on  equal  shares  ?  "  asked 
Hezekiah,  after  a  moment's  thought. 

"  Yes,  if  you  are  disposed  to  accept  of  me  as  a  partner. 
I'll  buy  one  half  of  your  patent,  and  you  shall  name  the 
price.  I'll  furnish  the  money  for  the  new  machine,  and  the 
funds  for  a  passage  to  Australia,  and  run  my  own  risk  about 
payment.     How  does  that  suit  3'ou  ?  " 

Mr.  Hopeful  uttered  a  crow  of  satisfaction  as  he  ex- 
claimed, — 

"  I'll  have  to  ^vTite  to  Martha  about  this ;  and  she'U  yell,  I 
know  ;  but  she'll  be  glad  too,  'cos  the  critter  always  is  when 
I'm  in  luck." 

"  Who  is  Martha  ?  " 

Hopeful  looked  at  me  from  the  corners  of  his  gray  eyes, 
as  though  doubtful  if  it  was  proper  to  trust  me  with  so  im- 
portant a  secret ;  but  at  length  he  said,  — 

"  She's  a  gal." 

"  I  supposed  so." 

"  And  a  plaguy  handsome  gal  she  is,  too.  There  ain*t  n 
handsomer  one  in  all  Hillsborough  County,  now  I  tell  you.' 

''  And  this  girl  you  would  marry  if  j'^ou  had  the  money  to 
support  her  ?  " 

*'  I  reckon ;  "  and  then  Hopeful  burst  from  his  leserve,  as 
he  exclaimed,  "  Goll  darn  it !  the  gal  is  too  good  for  mc,  I 
know,  *cos  she  has  got  a  dad  what  is  worth  ten  thousand 
dollars.  I  tell  you,  he's  got  the  putty,  and  jist  'cos  he  has, 
he  don't  want  me  to  hitch  on  to  Martha.  She's  bin  willin* 
for  a  year,  but  her  folks  ain't,  'cos  they  say  I'm  only  a  genius, 
Riid  won't  be  worth  a  darn  cent.     Yes,  sir,  it  was  on  account 


THE   YxVNKEE    AND   HIS   QUxVllTZ   CRUSHER.  li 

of  3Iartha  I  invented  my  quartz  crusher.  A  Californy  cliap 
helped  me  with  the  idea,  and  I  thought  if  I  could  sell  'em 
the  gal  would  be  mine." 

We  soon  finished  the  business  that  took  us  to  the  lawyer's, 
and  before  night  Hopeful  was  hard  at  work  in  a  raachine- 
ehop,  superintending  the  casting  of  wheels,  pulleys,  and 
massive  pieces  of  iron  beds ;  and,  while  he  was  doing  his 
part  of  the  work,  I  was  getting  ready  for  the  voyage  to 
Australia.  I  engaged  a  passage  in  the  clipper  ship  Morning 
Light,  Captain  Keelhaul,  who  swore  by  his  maintopmast 
that  he  would  make  the  passage  from  Boston  to  Melbourne 
in  ninety  days,  or  carry  all  the  spars  out  of  the  ship,  and 
ruin  one  or  two  insurance  companies.  I  collected  and  boxed 
up  such  articles  as  experience  told  me  would  be  useful.  I 
laid  in  a  good  stock  of  tobacco,  a  keg  of  pure  brandy,  a 
tent,  a  good  supply  of  ammunition,  and  the  saddles  which  I 
had  brought  home  with  me,  confident  that  I  could  find  none 
in  Melbourne  or  Sydney  that  would  compare  with  them  for 
comfort  or  convenience. 

At  last  Hezekiah  announced  that  his  second  machine  was 
ready  and  boxed  up,  and  the  day  after  the  quartz  crushers 
were  stowed  away  in  the  hold  of  the  Morning  Light,  and 
Hopeful  was  on  his  way  to  Hillsborough  to  have  a  parting 
interview  with  Martha,  to  tell  her  that  he  would  be  faithful, 
and  beg  of  her  to  remain  the  same,  —  to  shed  some  tears,  to 
dry  them,  and  to  inform  the  young  lady's  parents  that  he 
should  return  with  lots  of  money,  and  to  receive  an  answer 
on  their  part  tnat  they  would  like  to  see  it,  merely  out  of 
curiosity,  if  nothing  more.  But,  from  what  Hez  let  out,  J 
think  he  was  quite  satisfied  with  all  that  transpired  at  HiUs- 
borcugh.  Perhaps  Martha  was  more  tender  than  he  expect- 
ed. At  any  rate,  I  noticed  that  he  had  a  daguerreotype  in 
his  Lands  quite  often,  and  once  or  twice  I  saw  him  kiss  it 
with  frantic  devotion  and  very  moist  eyes. 

But  time  passed  rapidly,  and  at  length  we  were  ready  to 
sail.  All  of  my  friends  were  taken  leave  of,  and  all  of  them 
promised  to  write  quite  often  —  pledge?  which  it  is  useless 
to  say  were  not  kept,  except  by  one  or  two  men  who  had  a 


15  THE   BUSHRANGEKS. 

personal  regard  for  me,  and  without  the  slightest  expocta* 
tions  of  being  remembered  in  my  will. 

*'  All  aboard,  gentlemen,"  roared  Captain  Keelhaul,  onff  , 
bright  morning  in  the  month  of  October,  as  we  stood  on 
Lewis's  Wharf,  and  saw  that  his  topsails  were  sheeted  home, 
and  that  all  were  ready  to  cast  off  the  lines  as  soon  as  the 
pilot  gave  the  word. 

''■  Come,  Hopeful,"  I  said,  as  I  laid  a  hand  on  the  shoulder 
of  the  genius,  and  pointed  to  the  ship. 

*♦  I'm  ready,"  he  answered  ;  "  but  it's  an  all-fired  do..e,  to 
leave  home  ;  now  ain't  it  ? " 

*'  Not  when  you  are  used  to  it,"  I  answered. 

'*  Yes,  I  know  you  don't  care,  'cos  you  ain't  got  no  jral  or 
wife ;  but  I  tell  you  it  is  tough  on  me,  what  leaves  a  heart 
and  bright  eyes.     If  you  don't  believe  it,  jist  you  try  it." 

"  I  will,  some  time, 'but  not  now." 

Hopeful  took  a  long  look  up  the  wharf,  and  a  glance  over- 
head, as  though  ho  hoped  to  see  a  familiar  face  before  he 
separated  himself  from  the  world,  and  then  gulping  down  a 
deep  sigh,  he  stepped  on  board  the  vessel,  and  the  next 
moment  the  lines  were  cast  off,  and  the  Morning  Light  was 
heading  down  the  harbor,  under  the  influence  of  a  five-knot 
breeze  from  the  westward. 

"  Come,  gentlemen,"  cried  Captain  Keelhaul,  wlio  had 
nothing  to  do  as  long  as  the  pilot  was  on  board,  "  I've  got 
one  of  the  best  bowls  of  punch  mixed  that  man  ever  tasted. 
We  must  get  acquainted  over  it.  Walk  into  the  cabin,  and 
let  us  drink  to  a  successful  voyage  and  a  quick  one." 

On  the  whole,  I  rather  liked  the  appearance  of  the  pas- 
sengers, and  when  I  was  called  upon  for  a  sentiment  I  said 
PC,  and  for  half  an  hour  we  talked  and  drank  punch :  at 
the  end  of  which  time  the  breeze  had  freshened,  and  I  felt 
the  motion  of  the  ship,  and  so  did  the  young  fellows  who 
were  near  me :  for  I  noticed  that  they  no  longer  smoked 
with  an  apparent  relish,  that  their  cigars  went  out  for  the 
want  of  suction j  and  that  some  pale  cheeks  began  to  appear 
uround  the  boari. 

"  Gentlemen,"  cried  Captain  Keelhaul,  on  whom  tho  puncb 


A   START   FOR   AUSTRALIA.  1^ 

dad  no  more  effect  than  if  it  had  been  emptied  into  the 
harness  cask,  "  one  glass  more,  and  then  we  will  go  on 
deck." 

Only  by  the  most  determined  cpVit  were  some  of  tl  em 
enabled  to  comply  with  the  request;  and  as  soon  as  the 
li(]uor  was  worried  down,  there  was  a  rush  for  the  deck,  a 
decided  tendency  to  look  over  the  ship's  side,  as  though 
something  of  an  attractive  nature  could  be  seen  in  the  water ; 
and,  after  some  internal  commotion  had  been  subdued,  my 
fellow-passengers  retired  to  their  state-rooms,  and  were  no 
more  seen  on  deck  for  a  week's  time.  As  soon  as  I  left  the 
cabin  I  searched  for  Hopeful,  and  found  him  paying  tribute 
to  Neptune. 

*'  How  long,"  he  asked,  "  must  I  suffer  with  this  gol  darned 
sickness  ?     I  feel  as  though  I  should  throw  up  my  boots." 

"  It  will  depend  upon  yourself." 

"  Then  I'll  be  well  to-morrow,  sure." 

But  he  was  not  well,  or  so  that  he  could  eat  his  rations, 
for  a  week ;  and  then  we  were  across  the  Gulf  Stream,  and 
steering  for  the  coast  of  Africa. 

I  do  not  mean  to  tell  the  reader  of  the  fun  that  we  had  on 
board,  of  the  calms  that  we  endured,  of  the  gales  that  we 
encountered,  of  the  petty  quarrels  that  occurred  among  the 
passengers,  of  the  good  nature  of  Hopeful,  who  was  a  favorite 
fore  and  aft,  and  thought  seriously,  before  we  had  bei^n  out 
six  weeks,  of  constructing  a  steam  engine  and  propeller,  so 
that  we  could  make  headway  during  a  calm.  He  gave  up 
the  undertaking  when  he  found  that  the  cook  could  not  spare 
one  of  his  coppers  to  be  used  as  a  boiler,  and  that  Captain 
Keelhaul  would  not  allow  the  spare  iron  to  be  hammered  up 
for  the  purpose.  All  of  these  things  I  need  not  tell,  for  1 
know  that  the  reader  is  impatient  to  land  at  Melbourne  ;  and 
one  morning  in  the  month  of  January  we  dropped  anchor  in 
Hobson  Bay,  opposite  the  village  of  Williamstown,  and  our 
voyage  was  ended,  for  the  land  of  gold  was  near  us;  and 
so  were  some  of  the  ill-dressed  vagabonds  of  the  landing, 
for  they  swarmed  off  to  us  and  came  on  board,  clamorous 
for  money,  whiskey,  or  tobacco,  while  the  work  which  they 


18  THE  BUSHRAN^GERS. 

proposed  to  do  in  return  for  such  favors  was  of  a  ver^ 
slight  nature,  and  not  such  as  called  for  an  outlay  of  much 
strength. 

*'  Is  that  what  you  call  Australia  r "  asked  Hopeful,  as  he 
looked  at  the  boatmen  with  a  species  of  awe. 

"Yes,  Hez;  here  we  are,  safe,  in  just  ninety  days  from 
Boston.     What  do  you  think  of  it  ? " 

"  I  was  thinking,"  replied  the  genius,  in  a  thoughtful  tone, 
"  whar  in  all  creation  they  got  their  old  clothes  from."  And 
this  was  Hezekiah's  comment  on  his  first  introduction  to  tho 
cheerful,  refined,  and  intensely  honest  people  of  Australia. 


CHAPTER   II. 

WE    ARRIVE    AT    MELBOURNE,    AND    MEET    OLD    FRIENDS. 

FROM^the  time  I  left  Melbourne  until  my  return  was  just 
three  years ;  consequently  many  changes  had  taken  place, 
and  many  new  faces  had  crowded  out  the  old  ones  which  I 
had  been  accustomed  to  see.  Among  the  boatmen,  I  did 
not  notice  a  man  whom  I  had  known  in  former  years,  and  I 
must  ccnfess  that  I  felt  a  little  homesick  to  find  that  such 
was  the  fact,  although  I  did  not  allow  the  feeling  to  manifest 
itself;  for  I  knew  that  Hez  was  just  about  as  miserable  as  a 
man  could  be,  and  not  shed  tears  like  a  child.  While  I  was 
packing  my  trunks,  and  thinking  how  I  could  get  my  tobacco 
on  shore  without  paying  duties,  the  custom-house  offitjera 
came  on  board  and  took  charge,  and  following  them  was  a 
st'jamer  to  take  the  passengers  and  luggage  up  the  river  to 
Melbourne. 

"  Now,  then,  gents,"  shouted  a  fat  and  wheezy  English- 
man, who  seemed  to  be  a  custom-house  inspector,  "just 
rouse  your  luggage  on  deck,  and  let  us  have  a  look  at  it. 
No  tobaccQ,  gents,  and  no  cigars.  You  Americans  are  fond 
)f  the  weed,  but  you  mustn't  smuggle." 


ARR1VA.L  AT   MELBOURNE.  l<j 

**  Y  ou  hear  him,"  cried  Hopeful,  with  staring  eyes.  "  You 
pan't  get  that  'backer  on  shore.     Don't  you  attempt  it." 

I  laughed  at  his  fears.  I  knew  Australian  officials  much 
better  than  he  did.  My  trunks  were  passed  on  deck,  and  I 
thought  were  going  orx  board  the  steamer  without  an  exam- 
ination ;  but  I  was  mistaken. 

"  Open  'em  sir,"  cried  the  official. 

**  Nonsense  !  "  I  replied,  and  tipped  the  wink  ;  but  to  my 
surprise  the  fellow  did  not  respond,  for  he  whispered,  ''I 
can't  do  it,  sir,  'cos  there's  a  d — d  purlice  lieutenant  on 
board  the  steamboat,  and  he's  watching  mc." 

I  looked  up  and  saw  a  fine,  soldierly-appearing  man,  with 
the  uniform  of  a  lieutenant  of  police  on  his  back,  standing 
near  the  guards  of  the  steamer  and  composedly  smoking  his 
pipe,  while  his  eyes  were  turned  towards  me.  I  thought 
that  the  man's  face  appeared  familiar,  and  I  glanced  at  it 
two  or  three  times,  and  endeavored  to  recall  it  to  mind,  but 
could  not ;  and  I  commenced  to  unlock  my  trunks,  when  I 
heard  a  peculiar  sound,  such  as  I  had  not  heard  for  three 
years,  or  since  I  had  given  up  hunting  bushrangers  and  gold 
digging. 

In  an  instant  I  looked  up,  as  suddenly  as  though  I  had 
been  warned  by  the  tail  of  a  rattlesnake.  In  fact,  under 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  I  sprang  to  my  feet,  and  laid 
my  hand  on  my  revolver,  while  I  glanced  around  in  a  hur- 
ried manner ;  for  the  signal  which  I  had  heard  meant  that 
there  was  danger  near,  and  'that  I  must  be  prepared  for  it. 
It  was  a  peculiar  hiss  which  the  police  force  had  adopted  to 
communicate  with  each  other  while  in  search  of  convicts 
who  had  escaped  to  the  bush.  ' 

As  I  said  before,  I  looked  aloft,  and  then  around  the  deck, 
hut  saw  nothing  to  attract  attention ;  and  I  began  to  thinli 
that  I  must  be  mistaken,  and  was  just  on  the  point  of  hand- 
ing my  keys  to  the  custom-house  officer,  who  manifested 
t5ome  impatience,  when  the  second  signal  was  heard,  sharper 
than  before. 

"There  is  no  deception  this  time,"  I  muttered,  and  in- 


20  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

stantly  replied  to  it;  for  I  knew  the  answer  as  well  as  th* 
cavalry  soldier  knows  the  blast  of  the  trumpet. 

As  I  did  so  my  glance  fell  upon  the  lieutenant  of  police 
I  saw  a  smile  pass  over  his  face,  and  the  next  instant  he 
had  left  his  high  position  on  the  paddle-box,  and  was  stand- 
ing  on  the  deck  of  the  Morning  Light,  by  my  side,  with  hie 
strong,  sunburnt  right  hand  extended,  as  though  desirous  of 
giving  me  a  warm  welcome. 

*■  Your  honor  recollects  me  ? "  the  officer  asked. 
"  I  have   seen  your  face  before,  but  I  can't  call  youi 
ni'.me,"  I  replied. 

"  And  to  think  that  you  should  forget  me,  after  all  the 
fights  we  have  mixed  in,"  the  officer  cried,  in  a  reproachful 
tone.     "  I  am  sure  that  your  friend  would  not." 
"  You  mean  Fred  ? " 
*'  Yes,  sir." 
*•  Ah  !  he  is  dead." 

*•  A  brave  man  has  gone  to  his  final  account,"  cried  the 
officer,  reverentially ;  and  he  removed  his  official  cap,  and  ex- 
posed his  head,  and  as  he  did  sO  his  name  flashed  across  my 
memory  like  lightning. 

"  Maurice !  "  I  ^-ried,  and  seized  his  extended  hand. 
"  Yes,  sir,  that  is  my  name,  and  very  thankful  I  am  that 
you  have  not  forgotten  it.  I  thought  that  I  knew  you,  but  I 
was  not  sure ;  so  I  tried  the  signal,  for  I  was  positive  that 
you  would  not  forget  that.  Ah,  how  many  times  we  have 
used  that,  and  successfully,  tool " 

"  I  recollected  your  face  —  I  was  positive  that  I  had  seen 
it ;  but  it  is  so  many  years  since  we  have  met,  that  you  must 
pardon  me  for  not  calling  your  name  as  soon  as  you  spoke." 
'*  Don't  gay  one  word,"  cried  the  officer ;  "  a  man  who  haa 
proved  himself  as  good  a  friend  as  you  have,  need  not 
apologize." 

I  smiled  and  bowed,  for  I  did  not  know  to  what  he  alluded, 
and  I  thought  that  it  was  best  to  remain  quiet  until  he  gave 
the  cue. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  continued  Maurice,  who  had  served  in  the 
Australian  police  force  for  many  years,  and  was  a  sergean* 


A  MEETING  WITH   OLD  FKIENDS.  2. 

dit  the  time  of  my  former  visit,  "  to  you  I  am  indebted  fof 
my  present  position.  You  recommended  me  for  the  office, 
and  I  got  it  in  less  than  three  months'  after  you  left  us. 
You  shall  find  that  I  am  not  ungrateful." 

*'  Don't  mention  so  slight  a  servi'^e.  I  am  sure  that  you 
deserve  all  that  you  got,  and  more  too  ;  for  I  have  seen  you 
under  fire,  and  you  stood  it  like  a  hero." 

"  Ah,  those  were  times  for  men  like  us.  Now  nothing  in 
doing.  The  bushrangers  can  kill  and  rob,  and  nothing  i? 
done  towards  rooting  them  out.  They  don't  care  for  us 
*  traps,'  and  laugh  if  we  talk  of  hunting  them.  Four  weeks 
ago,  ten  convicts,  transported  for  life,  escaped  from  the 
hulks,  and  are  now  on  the  road,  eating  mutton,  killing  miners, 
stopping  the  mail,  and  raising  the  devil  generaDy.  I  offered 
to  take  a  squad  of  men  and  hunt  them  out  of  the  bush,  but 
I  can't  get  the  chance." 

"  But  where  is  Captain  Murden  ?  He  used  to  be  fond  of 
such  adventures.     He  has  not  grown  old  and  stiff,  I  hope." 

"  Ah,  sir,  it  is  because  he  is  no  longer  a  captain  that  such 
thiugs  are  permitted.  I  suppose  that  you  know  he  is  dis- 
charged from  the  force  ? " 

**  No  ;  this  is  the  first  intimation  that  I  had  of  it." 

**  Come  here  one  moment,  sir,"  the  officer  said,  as  he  mo- 
tioned for  me  to  move  towards  the  cabin,  where  Hopeful 
stood  with  eyes  greatly  distended  at  the  fact  of  my  meeting 
an  old  acquaintance. 

"  Well,  give  me  the  keys  of  your  luggage,  eo  that  I  can 
search  your  boxes,"  cried  the  custom-house  officer,  as  we 
moved  towards  the  quarter-deck,  where  the  crowd  was  not 
BO  great. 

"  What  do  you  say  ? "  demanded  the  lieutenant,  turning 
Fpon  the  pursy  custom-house  officer  with  an  expression  of 
surprise. 

"  Why,  I  want  to  search  the  gentleman's  luggage,  you 
know." 

*'  Search  the  devil !  What  do  you  mean  ?  Put  it  on 
board  the  steamer,  and  don't  disturb  a   single   article." 

'•  But  our  orders  —  " 


22  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

V 

"I'll  take  the  responsibility,"  cried  Maurice.  "  His  lug- 
gage  contains  nothing  but  such  as  I  can  vouch  for.  If  you 
knew  the  gentleman  you  would  say  so." 

*'  One  moment,"  I  whispered  to  Maurice.  "  I  have  some 
twenty  pounds  of  costly  smoking-tobacco  in  one  of  those 
boxes." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,  and  I  wish  that  you  had  twice  as  much  ; 
for  I  hope  that  you  will  remain  with  us  for  some  years,  and 
ihat  we  shall  have  many  quiet  smokes  together.  Ah,  if  we 
could  have  a  few  more  expeditions,  what  fun  we  shoidd 
have  ! " 

"  Don't  tempt  me,"  I  said.  "  I  have  come  here  to  crush 
quartz,  not  bushrangers.  If  Fred  were  alive  I  might  do 
something  for  you,  and  with  you  ;  but  now  I  don't  feel 
enthusiastic." 

*'  TVhat,  not  even  to  restore  Mr.  Murden  to  his  rank  of 
commissioner?"  asked  Maurice,  with  an  eager  look.  I  was 
silent,  for  I  liked  my  former  friend  too  well  to  refuse  or 
make  a  rash  promise. 

"  Let  me  tell  you  how  Commissioner  Murden  lost  his  po- 
sition, and  then  you  can  think  what  can  be  done  to  restore 
him  to  his  former  rank.  You  see  he  was  appointed,  after 
you  left  us,  for  good  conduct  in  breaking  up  Black  Darvil's 
and  Darnley's  bands,  and  ridding  the  country  of  such  pests. 
You  know  what  trouble  we  had  in  clearing  them  out  ?  "  I 
nodded,  for  I  recollected  the  circumstances  quite  well. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Murden  earned  his,  promotion,"  continued 
Maurice,  after  a  pause,  *'  and  there  was  not  a  man  in  the 
force  but  was  rejoiced  when  he  was  appointed  commissioner, 
bncause  we  knew  that  he  would  do  what  was  right  with  the 
force  under  his  charge.  He  had  a  roving  order,  went  where 
lie  pleased,  remained  away  as  long  as  he  pleased,  and  re- 
turned when  he  pleased.  Of  course  I  was  with  hirfi  and  the 
force  he  commanded,  and  a  good  time  we  had  of  it.  We 
were  all  growing  rich,  for  we  divided  on  the  square  — " 
At  this  point  of  the  narrative  I  smiled,  and  I  could  not  help 
it,  for  I  recollected  several  dividends  in  which  I  had  had  » 
^••*r'^e  share. 


A  MEETING  WITH  OLD   FRIENDJ5.  23 

•*  t),  yott  may  laugh,"  cried  Maurice,  "  but  it  was  a  divi- 
dend vhat  t?ost  Commissioner  Murden  his  head.  You  see, 
we  had  driven  the  bushrangers  all  out  of  Victoria,  and  sent 
them  flying  in  terror  towards  Sydney ;  but  one  fellow  gav^ 
us  some  trouble,  for  he  was  mounted  on  the  best  horse  that 
was  ever  raised  in  the  colony,  and  we  might  chase  him  all 
day,  and  still  not  overtake  him.  But  at  last  we  come  the 
woman  game  over  him.  You  know  what  that  is,  I  sup- 
pose ?" 

I  nodded.  It  meant  that  some  good-looking  girl,  a  con- 
vict, and  perhaps  sent  to  Australia  for  life,  had  received  the 
promise  of  a  ticket  of  leave,  or  a  pardon,  if  smart,  if  she 
would  manage  to  inveigle  the  bushranger  and  deliver  him  up 
to  his  enemies. 

'*  We  found  a  smart  wench,  and  put  her  on  a  sheep  farm, 
and  told  her  to  keep  her  eyes  open.  She  did.  The  bush- 
ranger, one  day,  while  sweeping  down  for  a  fat  lamb,  caught 
sight  of  the  girl,  and  that  settled  him.  In  three  days  we 
had  him  ironed,  hands  and  feet ;  and  then  we  began  to  tease 
him,  just  to  find  out  where  his  gold  dust  was  stored,  for  we 
knew  that  he  had  an  awful  lot  of  it  somewhere,  for  he  had 
been  in  the  bush  for  nearly  two  years." 

"You  mean  by  teasing,"  I  said,  "that  —  " 

"Just  so,"  replied  Maurice,  with  a  cool  smile.  "We 
were  not  permitted  to  torture  prisoners  to  find  out  their 
secrets,  and  as  this  fellow  refused  to  tell  where  his  money 
was  stored,  we  just  laid  him  down  near  an  ant-hill,  and  let 
Wm  rest  while  we  cooked  dinner." 

"  That  was  horrible,"  I  muttered. 

"  I  know ;  but  what  could  we  do  ?  He  wouldn't  utter  a 
I70rd  nor  make  a  sign :  so  we  put  him  near  the  ant-hill,  and, 
woidd  you  believe  it,  the  cuss  did  not  whimper  for  half  an 
hour.  At  \he  end  of  that  time  he  began  to  groan,  and  turn, 
and  twist,  and  in  three  quarters  of  an  hour  he  shouted  for 
mercy,  and  promised  to  tell  all  that  we  wanted  to  know. 
Ah,  there's  nothing  like  an  ant-hill  to  bring  a  man  to  hia 
senses." 

"  And  y  )u  found  the  place  where  the  dust  was  stowed  ^ " 

3 


24  THE  BUSHRANGEBb. 

"  Yes,  and  made  a  good  thing  out  of  it.  We  divided  fiv« 
hundred  pounds  each,  and  returned  to  the  government  two 
thousand  pounds,  or  nearly  ten  thousand  dollars,  which,  you 
will  admit,  was  liberal." 

*'  Of  course." 

*'  And  not  only  that,  we  brought  in  the  prisoner ;  but  the 
cove  was  ungrateful,  for  he  told  the  court  that  we  had  robbed 
him,  and  the  court  ordered  an  investigation,  instead  of  laugh- 
ing at  the  charge.  Well,  one  of  our  fellows,  who  was  never 
fit  for  a  policeman,  while  in  his  cups  split  on  us,  and  made 
a  confession ;  and  that  is  the  way  Commissioner  Murden 
lost  his  head." 

"  Is  he  stopping  at  Melbourne  ? " 

"  0,  yes,  and  has  petitioned  for  reinstatement ;  but  he 
has  not  had  a  hearing,  and  I  don't  think  he  will,  unless  he 
can  bring  strong  influence  to  bear." 

"  In  the  mean  time  the  bushrangers  are  on  the  rampage 
between  Melbourne  and  Ballarat  ? " 

*'  Yes,  sir.  As  soon  as  they  heard  that  Murden  was  off 
duty,  they  came  back  to  their  old  quarters,  and  remained 
there  in  force  ;  for  when  a  platoon  or  company  is  sent 
against  them,  they  scatter  in  all  directions,  and  we  return 
home." 

"  But  how  does  it  happen  that  I  find  you  on  the  water, 
instead  of  doing  duty  on  the  land  ? " 

"  Simply  because  the  oflacer  who  has  charge  of  this  kind 
of  business  is  sick,  and  I  was  detailed  to  take  his  place. 
I  am  glad  I  came,  for  I  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
you." 

I  bowed,  and  as  the  baggage  was  all  on  board  the  steamer, 
there  was  nothing  to  detain  us  on  the  Morning  Light.  I 
sJiook  hands  with  Captain  Keelhaul,  promised  to  see  him  at 
Melbourne,  and  then  Hez,  Maurice,  and  I  went  on  board  the 
steam  tug,  the  lines  were  cast  off,  we  steamed  past  Williams- 
town,  entered  the  river,  and  in  a  short  time  were  moored  at 
the  docks,  if  such  they  can  be  called,  of  Melbourne. 

*'  Will  you  go  to  a  hotel,  or  drive  direct  to  Mr.  Murden's 
house  ^"  asked  the  lieutenant. 


A  MEETING  WITH  OLD  FRIENDS.  23 

"  Thank  you,"  I  said.  "  I  know  sometliing  of  Melbourne 
hotels.  I  have  even  stopped  at  them  when  I  was  in  Aus- 
tralia on  my  first  visit." 

"  Pardon  my  forgetfulness,"  cried  the  police  officer.  "  I 
did  not  think  of  that.  You  know  all  about  high  charges, 
pocr  fare,  bad  accommodations,  and  the  bugs." 

"  T  should  think  that  I  did." 

"  Then  you  must  go  to  a  private  house,  or  else  stop  with 
3Ir  Murden'.  He  can  accommodate  you.  He  is  not  mar- 
ried, has  a  good  establishment,  and  a  well-stocked  cellar.  I 
know  that  he  would  like  to  have  you  visit  him."  But  I 
thought  that  it  was  rather  rude  to  force  myself  on  a  man 
without  an  invitation ;  so  I  concluded  to  take  lodgings,  as 
the  cheapest  and  most  convenient  way  of  living  while  we 
remained  in  Melbourne. 

"  I  know  just  the  place  that  will  suit  you,"  cried  Maurice  ; 
and  he  held  up  his  hand  for  one  of  the  numerous  carts  near 
the  steamer  to  approach.  The  dray  was  loaded,  and  started, 
and  we  followed  on,  through  some  of  the  principal  streets, 
until  we  stopped  at  a  respectable-looking  house. 

"Here  is  the  place  for  you,"  said  Maurice.  "Off with 
the  load." 

We  found  the  woman  who  had  charge  of  the  house  willing 
to  receive  us  at  a  reasonable  compensation,  and  in  a  short 
time  we  were  installed  in  our  apartments  ;  and  then  Maurice 
took  his  leave,  promising  to  .call  and  see  us  in  the  course  of 
the  evening.  As  soon  as  he  was  gone,  Hopeful  lighted  his 
pipe,  and  sat  ddwn  opposite  to  me. 

"  Wal,"  he  asked,  "  what  is  the  next  move  ? " 

"  We  can't  move  until  the  cargo  is  out  of  the  ship.  We 
must  remain  here  until  our  quartz  crushers  are  landed,  and 
♦hen  we  will  see  what  we  can  do  with  them." 

"  And  }  ou  still  think  our  prospect  is  good  ? " 

"  Of  course." 

"  Wal,"  said  Hez,  with  a  sigh,  "  I  don't  know  as  I  feel  as 
hopeful  as  I  did  when  I  was  in  Boston ;  but  if  you  think  it's 
all  right,  then  I  s'pose  it  is.  But  it  don't  seem  to  me  that 
they  is  making  much  fuss  about  the  gold  here." 


26  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  What  did  you  expect  ?  " 

"  Wal,  I  s'posed  tliat  every  man  I  seed  would  have  a  bag 
full  on  his  arm,  and  that  the  shop  winders  would  be  full  of 
it.  But  I  ain't  see  no  gold  as  yet,  and  I  am  fearful  it  ha? 
all  been  dug  out  and  carried  off." 

"  Patience,  Hez,"  I  replied.  "  You  will  see  gold  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks,  and  I  hope  that  in  that  time  we  shall 
own  some." 

"  I  hope  so,  too,"  Hez  replied  ;  but  he  was  not  in  a  hope- 
ful mood,  and  I  saw  that  his  thoughts  wandered  back  to  the 
cherry-cheeked  damsel  of  Hillsborough  County,  and  that  he 
was  a  little  homesick,  and  would  like  to  have  had  a  good  cry, 
but  his  manliness  had  come  to  his  aid,  and  prevented  the 
tears  from  falling.  I  saw  what  was  wanted,  for  I  had  felt 
the  same  sensations  many  times ;  so  I  opened  our  trunks, 
gave  Hez  a  good  dose  of  whiskey,  put  a  pipe  in  his  mouth, 
and  commenced  relating  some  of  my  former  exploits  in  the 
land  of  bankruptcy  and  gold.  I  soon  saw  smiles  on  my 
friend's  face,  and  was  warmed  up  in  good  style,  when  I 
heard  steps  on  the  stairs,  and  the  next  instant  a  knock  on 
the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  I  shouted  ;  for  I  thought  that  it  was  some  one 
belonging  in  the  house. 

The  door  opened  with  a  crash,  and  in  rushed  my  old  friend 
Murden,  the  very  man  I  wanted  to  see  of  all  others.  He 
seized  my  hand,  and  for  a  moment  neither  of  us  could  speak, 
BO  overpowered  were  we  by  emotion ;  but,  while  we  were 
waiting  for  words  to  come,  we  scanned  each  other's  faces 
with  much  interest.  I  saw  that  Murden  had  changed  but 
little  during  the  three  years  that  we  had  been  separated  ; 
that  his  eyes  still  retained  their  fire  ;  that  his  face  still  looked 
determined  and  resolute ;  that  his  form  was  wiry  as  ever, 
and  just  as  capable  of  receiving  and  giving  hard  knocks  as 
when  we  roamed  together  on  the  banks  of  the  Lodden. 

"  Well,  of  all  the  men  in  the  world  that  I  desire  to  see 
most,  you  are  the  one,"  Murden  remarked.  '*  Why,  it  wa& 
only  this  morning  that  I  commenced  writing  a  letter  to  you, 
aad  begging  that  you  would  once  more  visit  Australia.    Half 


THE   STOLEN  l^IAMONDS.  2? 

an  hour  since,  Maurice  walked  into  the  house,  ana  informed 
me  that  you  were  here,  and  I  hastened  to  meet  you  as  soon 
as  I  had  made  a  few  preparations  for  your  supper.  Come, 
pack  up.  A  dray  is  at  the  door  to  take  your  things.  My 
house  is  your  home,  and  at  no  other  place  shall  you  remaiD 
quiet." 

"  But,  my  dear  sir  —  " 

♦'  No  excuses.  Call  the  woman  up,  and  pay  her  for  the 
rooms  for  a  week's  time,  and  then  we  will  be  off." 

lsa.w  that  remonstrance  was  useless  ;  so,  after  introducing 
Hez  to  Murden,  I  paid  for  our  lodging,  and  then  followed 
Murden  to  his  comfortable  house,  and  was  instated  in  neat 
apartments  ;  and  while  I  was  dressing  for  supper,  or  dinner, 
—  for  it  was  just  six  o'clock,  —  Murden  came  to  my  room 
and  talked  with  me. 

*'  Maurice  has  told  you  the  particulars  of  my  discharge 
from  the  service,"  he  said,  "  and  now  I  want  your  help  to 
get  restored.  You  are  stUl  remembered  at  headquarters, 
and  your  good  word  will  do  much  for  me.  But  there  is 
another  plan  which  will  accomplish  the  object,  if  fair  words 
fail,  and  I  will  let  you  into  the  mystery  of  the  matter."  Just 
at  that  moment,  dinner  was  reported  ready,  and  we  proceeded 
to  the  table. 


CHAPTER   m. 


THE    STOLEN   DIAMONDS.  THE    LOVELY   BAB-MAID    AND 

HEl.    FATHER. 

It  was  very  evident  that  Murden  did  not  neglect  his  table, 
even  if  he  was  out  of  employment ;  for  I  saw  all  the  fruit  of 
the  season  on  his  sideboard,  and  several  bottles  of  wine 
cooling  in  ice,  while  the  ware  upon  the  table  was  the  richest 
china,  with  several  pieces  of  silver  scattered  around ;  but 
as  none  of  the  silver  matched,  I  was  at  no  loss  to  account 
for  the  manner  in  which  it  was  obtained ;  and  in  fact  Mur- 


28  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

den  made  no  secret  of  the  fact  that  he  had  taken  the  plate 
from  bushrangers  during  some  of  his  excursions. 

**  And  they  obtained  it  from  —  " 

"How  should  I  know?"  was  the  answer.  "They  stole 
it,  of  course  ;  but  I  did  not  hunt  for  the  owners  after  I  had 
recovered  it.  I  needed  a  few  pieces  of  ware  to  decorate  tny 
table.  I  did  not  feel  like  buying,  and  I  had  no  occasion  to. 
l>ut  come,  the  soup  is  growing  cold." 

We  sat  down  to  dinner,  Hez  wondering  at  the  good  fortune 
v^hich  had  befallen  us,  and  willing  to  do  justice  to  the  cheer 
spread  before  him  ;  but  after  the  dessert  was  set  on  the  table, 
and  the  wine  had  circulated  two  or  three  times,  Murden 
spoke  on  the  subject  nearest  his  heart,  although  he  first  sent 
the  servant  out  of  the  room  with  the  following  advice : 
"  Tom,  leave  the  room ;  and  remember  that  I  intend  to  talk 
confidentially  to  these  gentlemen.  If  I  catch  you  listening 
at  the  door,  I'll  cut  off  your  ears,  and  send  you  back  to  the 
tain-gang.     You  know  me." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  only  reply ;  and  the  man  left  the  room 
apparently  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  Murden  would 
keep  his  word. 

"  Now,  my  dear  fellow,"  said  Murden,  as  he  filled  the 
glasses  and  lighted  a  cigar,  "  let  me  tell  you  that  I  am 
anxious  to  be  restored  to  my  position  as  commissioner ; 
because,  in  the  first  place,  I  had  no  idea  that  I  should  lose 
it,  and  after  it  was  lost  I  felt  as  though  I  should  regain  it 
In  the  second  place,  the  position  is  profitable,  and  gives  one 
a  rank  that  cannot  be  obtained  in  any  other  branch  of  the 
government,  unless  one  goes  in  for  some  of  the  high  :ffices ; 
and  I'm  not  fit  for  that,  you  know." 

**  How  do  you  propose  to  get  back  ? "  I  asked  ;  "  and  how 
can  I  be  of  service  to  you  ? " 

"  Listen,  and  I'll  tell  you.  Your  deeds,  and  those  o^ 
your  brave  companion,  poor  Fred,  are  not  forgotten  by  the 
government.  They  are  treasured  up  and  talked  over,  and 
compared  with  the  dashes  of  the  police  of  the  present  day ; 
and  I  need  not  say  that  e^ery  fresh  bushranger  outrage  is 
the  signal  for  tongues  to  commence  wagging,  and  then  youi 


THE   STOLEN  DIAMONDS.  29 

name  is  mentioned.  Now,  such  being  the  case,  it  stands  to 
reason  that  you  must  have  influence  with  the  government, 
and  that  a  word  from  you  would  set  me  all  right." 

*'  You  shall  .have  half  a  dozen  words  if  you  want  tJiem/'  I 
answered,  with  a  laugh.  "  Why,  you  know  that  T  would  do 
all  in  my  power  for  your  restoration." 

"  Thank  you.  I  not  only  want  a  word  or  two,  but  I  de* 
sire  a  little  of  your  assistance  in  another  direction ;  and  if 
your  friend  here  can  do  something  to  aid  me,  so  much  the 
better."  . 

"  J>arn  me  if  I  don't  do  all  I  can,"  cried  Hez,  on  whom 
the  mne  was  operating,  and  who  forgot  his  homesickness 
for  the  moment. 

"  Thank  you.  I  supposed  that  you  would.  Try  one  of 
those  oranges  ;  after  a  long  voyage  they  taste  delicious." 

Hez  complied,  and  then  Murden  continued,  sinking  his 
voice  to  a  whisper,  "  Let  me  tell  you  how  I  expect  to  get 
reappointed.  A  week  ago  some  ticket-of-leave  man  or  per- 
son whose  time  is  out  entered  the  government  house,  and 
stole  all  the  diamonds  belonging  to  the  wife  of  the  lieuten- 
ant-governor. They  are  worth  some  five  thousand  pounds, 
and  of  course  no  woman  likes  to  lose  such  jewels;  so  for 
days  and  nights  the  police  have  been  on  the  watch  in  hopes 
that  they  will  turn  up  ;  but  thus  far  no  one  has  been  lucky 
enough  to  lay  hands  on  the  thief,  or  thieves,  or  the  precious 
stones." 

*'  Probably  the  scamp  has  run  to  Sydney  with  them,"  I 
remarked. 

"  No,  I  think  not ;  for  the  roads  and  'boats  have  been 
watched,  and  not  a  suspicious  character  has  left  the  city 
Rrithout  being  thoroughly  searched." 

*'  They  may  have  gone  to  the  mines  —  to  Ballarat  or 
Bathurst,"  I  suggested. 

Murden  shook  his  head  as  he  feplied,  "  The  police  in  that 
section  of  the  country  have  been  on  the  watch,  and  they 
woidd  not  fail  to  find  the  jewels  if  they  had  been  taken  to 
the  mines." 

"  Then  of  course  you  think  that  the  diamonds  are  in  the 


50  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

city ;  that  the  robber  or  the  party  who  took  them  has  not 
left  town." 

"  Such  is  my  opinion,"  responded  Murden  ;  '•  a:ad  I  will 
tell  you  why  I  think  so.  In  the  first  place,  the  rogue  —  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  he  is  a  cunning  one  —  would  naturally  sup- 
pose that  every  person  leaving  the  city  would  be  watched. 
Such  being  the  case,  a  crafty  rascal  would  argue  that  it  is 
better  to  remain  quiet  for  a  few  weeks,  or  until  the  affair 
has  blown  over,  than  run  any  risk  by  leaving  in  a  hurry.  In 
the  second  place,  diamonds  of  much  value  cannot  be  sold  in 
Australia  without  exciting  suspicion  and  an  investigation. 
They  must  go  to  England  to  get  rid  of  them  at  a  fair  price, 
for  the  Jews  of  Melbourne  would  not  think  of  paying  one 
tenth  part  what  they  are  worth.  You  follow  me  in  my  argu- 
ment ? " 

"  Yes  ;  I  think  that  you  are  sufficiently  lucid." 

*'  Well,  then,  pass  the  bottle  to  your  friend,  and  we  wiD 
wet  our  lips ;  for  talking  is  dry  work,  at  the  best.  At 
the  same  time  light  one  of  these  fresh  cigars  —  they  are 
genuine  Havanas,  and  were  given  me  by  a  Spaniard  to  whom 
I  did  a  little  service  a  year  or  two  ago.  You  will  like  them, 
for  the  tobacco  is  rich  and  agreeable." 

We  performed  our  allotted  parts  in  a  short  time,  and  as 
the  white  clouds  of  smoke  encircled  our  heads,  Murden  con- 
tinued :  "  Now,  if  I  could  find  those  diamonds,  my  restora- 
tion to  rank  would  be  certain  and  speedy,  for  I  should  refuse 
the  reward  which  the  governor  has  offered,  and  which  has 
set  all  the  traps  of  Melbourne  on  the  alert.  I  should  decline 
the  reward,"  said  Murden,  after  a  moment's  thought,  and 
with  an  honest  expression  of  countenance,  "  because  I  kno^ 
that  I  could  make  much  more  in  my  old  position  with  one 
month's  successful  foraging." 

"  You  are  candid,"  I  remarked. 

*'  I  am  with  friends,  and  with  one  who  has  shared  with  me 
in  many  a  spoliation.  Why  should  I  not  express  myself  in 
plain  terms  ? " 

"  'Specially  if  there's  money  to  be  made,"  cried  Hopeful 
pricking  up  his  ears. 


THE  STOLEN  DIAMONDS  31 

"Just  SO,"  replied  Murden.  "  Restore  me  to  rank,  and 
ril  warrant  that  we  find  something  worth  picking  up." 

*'  "We  will  do  what  we  can  for  you ;  but  you  must  remember 
that  we  came  here  for  hard  work,  and  not  for  bushranger 
hunting.  We  are  going  into  the  quartz-crushing  business, 
and  have  machines  for  that  purpose." 

"  And  I  know  where  the  richest  quartz  veins  in  the  coun- 
try are  to  be  found." 

"  Whar  ? "  asked  Hez,  with  his  usual  bluntness. 

Murden  smiled,  and  did  not  reply  directly.  *'  The  in- 
formation will  come  in  due  time.  But  we  will  not  talk  of 
the  matter  now.     Let  us  settle  the  diamond  question  fir«t." 

"  Go  on.  State  your  proposition,  and  I  will  agree  to  it," 
I  said. 

"  I  know  the  party  who  stole  the  diamonds  is  in  the  city, 
waiting  for  a  chance  to  get  to  England.  Now,  we  must 
arrest  him,  and  recover  the  property ;  and  to  do  so  I  shall 
need  your  assistance." 

*'  I  have  already  promised  it." 

"  I  know  it,  but  you  have  not  promised  to  commence  oper- 
ations this  very  night." 

"  It  is  sudden." 

"  And  therefore  the  more  liable  to  be  successful.  Will 
you  go  with  me  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Grood  !  Then  we  will  commence  our  rounds  at  nine 
o'clock,  and  as  we  will  have  to  visit  the  lowest  dens  in  the 
city,  we  must  change  our  clothes,  and  put  on  garments  that 
will  not  attract  attention  for  their  novelty.  Each  of  us  will 
urant  a  revolver,  a  lot  of  impudence,  and  a  determination  to 
make  love  to  half  a  dozen  good-looking  bar-maids." 

"  0,  but  I  can't  do  that,"  cried  Hez,  with  a  very  blank 
face.     "  I'll  help  all  I  can,  but  I  can't  be  false  to  Martha." 

Murden  raised  his  eyebrows,  —  all  the  surprise  that  he  al- 
lowed himself  to  express,  —  and  remarked,  "Well,  we'll  ex* 
cuse  you  in  that  particular,  although  you  are  the  first  man  that 
I  ever  saw  that  could  remain  faithful  such  a  distance  from 
liome.     You  are  a  species  of  the  genus  homo  that  is  rar(!l5 


32  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

found  in  this  section  of  the  country ;  and  if  T  should  pro- 
claim that  so  faithful  a  fellow  was  in  the  city,  I  should  not  be 
l^elieTed.  Jack  and  I  will  do  the  love-making,  but  you  must 
help  us  drink.  You  must  keep  quiet,  and  not  utter  a  word, 
for  I'm  afraid  that  Yankee  twang  of  your  tongue  would  set 
Bome  of  the  old  heads  to  gossiping  ;  and  that  we  must 
avoid." 

At  nine  o'clock  we  changed  our  clothing,  assuming  the 
garb  of  common  sailors,  such  as  blue  shirts  and  trousers, 
thick  Scotch  caps,  and  leather  belts  around  our  waists  to 
keep  up  our  pants.  In  an  inner  pocket  of  our  shirts  we 
placed  our  revolvers,  for  we  did  not  know  but  that  we  should 
need  them  in  case  of  trouble  or  any  sudden  outbreak.  We 
were  all  of  us  salt  enough  to  pass  for  sailors  without  much 
suspicion  ;  and  with  a  dozen  or  twenty  shillings  in  our  pock 
ets,  just  enough  to  pay  our  way,  and  yet  not  invite  an  attack 
for  the  purpose  of  robbery,  we  sallied  forth,  and  sauntered 
slowly  through  the  streets,  meeting  policemen  at  every  turn, 
and  encountering  their  keen  glances  without  the  slightest 
apparent  notice ;  for  Murden  wore  a  false  gray  beard  and 
wig,  while  Hopeful  and  myself  were  not  well  enough  known 
to  care  for  such  disguises.  After  walking  a  short  distance 
we  heard  the  sound  of  violins,  guitars,  and  pianos,  the  latter 
most  shockingly  out  of  tune. 

"  Now,  then,  we  must  have  our  wits  about  us,  for  we  are 
in  the  den  of  the  enemy,"  whispered  Murden.  And  he 
spoke  truly,  for  we  saw  bloated  monsters  of  both  sexes  flit- 
ling  in  and  out  of  the  dance  halls  and  drinking  saloons, 
some  of  them  drunk,  and  others  in  a  fair  way  to  reach  an 
inebriated  condition.  Sailors  and  pimps  were  lounging  on 
the  narrow  sidewalks,  and  women  were  at  the  windows  of 
all  the  houses,  exchanging  chaff  with  those  in  the  street, 
and  soliciting  visits  from  those  who  passed  near  them. 

At  length  we  came  to  a  saloon  called  the  "  Red  Lion," 
which  looked  a  little  moi'e  pretentious  than  the  rest,  and 
seemed  cleaner.  Murden  glanced  in  at  the  door  for  a 
moment,  and  then  entered,  with  a  careless,  indifferent 
Bwagger  that  was  quite  taking.     Hez  and  I  followed  him, 


THE  LOVELY. BAR-MAID  ANI>  HER  FATHER.  33 

and  took  seats  at  a  table,  and  then,  for  tlio  first  time,  ] 
glanced  around  to  see  -who  were  our  neighbors.  There 
were  about  a  dozen  people  in  the  room,  which  was  a  long 
one,  with  a  door  at  the  end  farthest  from  the  street.  On 
the  left  hand  side,  on  entering  the  saloon,  was  a  bar,  and 
behind  that  bar,  —  a  rather  substantial  one,  of  solid  oak, — 
was  a  red-faced,  broad-shouldered  man,  with  a  bull-dog  sort  oi 
expression  about  his  jaws,  that  was  not  intended' to  inspire 
confidence  in  those  disposed  to  create  a  disturbance,  or  to 
take  liberties  with  him.  His  hands  were  large  and  bony, 
and  his  arms  were  of  immense  length,  and  wonderful  in  their 
muscular  strength ;  for  the  man  had  his  shirt-sleeves  rolled 
up,  and  showed  all  the  flesh  to  the  elbow.  But  I  was  not 
so  much  attracted  by  the  man  whom  I  have  described  as  I 
was  by  the  young  girl  at  his  side.  At  the  first  glance 
I  thought  that  I  was  mistaken,  and  I  rubbed  my  eyes  and 
took  a  second  look.  No,  I  was  not  dreaming.  Behind  the 
bar,  standing  by  the  side  of  that  muscular  giant,  drawing 
ale,  half-and-half  (half  ale  and  half  porter),  was  the  hand- 
somest girl  that  I  had  ever  seen.  She  was  all  English,  with 
large  blue  eyes,  of  a  dark  hue,  and  the  sweetest  red  and 
white  skin,  so  pure  and  transparent  that  I  could  hardly 
believe  she  was  not  painted.  Her  hands  and  arms  were 
splendidly  proportioned,  for  the  latter  were  bare,  although 
they  were  encircled  by  bracelets  of  a  costly  pattern  ;  but  the 
gold  did  not  look  as  well  as  the  pink  and  white  flesh.  On 
her  long  and  tapering  fingers  I  saw  several  rings,  and  as 
they  were  set  with  diamonds,  brilliant  flashes  of  light  fol- 
lowed all  her  movements.  She  was  dressed  with  most  ex- 
quisite taste,  a  light  dress  revealing  a  pair  of  plump,  white 
shoulders,  upon  which  not  a  speck  or  blotch  was  to  be  seen. 
Never  before  had  I  been  so  taken  with  the  face  and  form  of 
a  woman ;  and  Murden  had  to  speak  to  me  three  times  before 
I  was  recalled  from  dream-land,  where  I  had  wandered  when 
E  was  feasting  my  eyes  on  the  face  of  the  young  and  tender- 
looking  bar-maid. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you?"  Murden  asked.     *' I 


34  THE  BUSHRAJSTGEKS. 

have  spoken  to  you  three  times,  and  inquirel  if  you  would 
have  plain  ale,  half-and-half,  or  a  shilling's  woith  (f  gin 
We  must  call  for  something,  you  know." 

"  Who  is  she  ? "  I  asked  in  a  whisper,  regardless  of  his 
question.  *'  Tell  me  something  about  her,  for  she  is  the 
handsomest  woman  that  I  ever  saw  in  my  life." 

"  Whew !  "  whistled  Murden.  "  Sits  the  wind  in  that  quar- 
ter? "and  then,  with  a  grave  face,  he  continued:  *' Don't 
lose  your  heart  there.  Jack,  for  she  is  colder  than  ice,  and 
all  the  gold  in  Australia  would  not  tempt  her  virtue.  She 
has  broken  more  hearts  than  any  woman  in  Victoria,  an  1  the 
little  jade  is  proud  of  her  triumphs." 

"  And  no  one  has  yet  touched  her  feelings  ?  " 

"  No  one,  so  it  is  said.  See,  here  she  lives  in  the  worst 
section  of  the  city :  she  is  surrounded  night  and  day  with 
escaped  convicts,  pardoned  convicts,  and  convicts  whose 
time  has  expired.  She  waits  upon  murderers,  thieves, 
gamblers,  men  of  the  most  licentious  character,  all  the  scum 
of  the  world,  which  drifts  to  the  surface  and  bubbles-  in 
Melbourne,  and  yet  she  stands  behind  that  bar  as  virtuous 
and  chaste  as  Diana." 

"  Jist  like  my  Martha,"  murmured  Hez,  with  a  suppressed 
sob  and  a  long-drawn  sigh. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  young  girl  flitted  towards  us,  and 
after  a  hasty  glance  at  our  faces  to  see  if  she  had  ever  met 
them  before  in  the  saloon,  she  turned  to  me  for  orders,  and 
with  the  sweetest  smile  and  the  most  fascinating  courtesy 
that  I  had  ever  seen,  asked,  — 

"  What  will  you  please  to  order,  gentlemen  ?  " 

"  Some  of  your  best  ale  ;  and  I  know  that  it  must  be  good 
if  you  draw  it,"  I  said,  hastily,  fearful  that  Murden  would 
get  the  start  of  me.  In  an  instant  her  calm  blue  eye 
scanned  my  features,  and  then  fell  upon  my  hands.  I  thrust 
them  out  of  sight,  for  I  recollected  that  they  were  not 
rough  enough  for  the  character  I  had  assumed,  and  that  I 
had  forgotten  to  stain  them.  She  seemed  to  have  read  me 
in  an  instant,  for  the  light  vanished  from  her  red,  sweet 


THE   LCVELY  BAR-MAID   AND   HER   FATHER.  35 

bps,  and  she  drew  herself  up  and  looked  as  cold  as  an 
iceberg. 

*'  A  f  mt  or  a  quart  of  ale  for  each  ? "  the  bar-maid  asked. 

"  A.  pint,  and  half  a  dozen  of  jour  best  cigars.  Remem- 
ber, not  German." 

*'  I  understand,  sir ;  "  and  she  glided  from  me  towards  th«» 
bar,  where  the  muscular  individual  with  the  red  face  was 
reading,  with  the  most  intense  interest,  an  English  sporting- 
paper.  There  were  but  two  persons  in  the  room,  with  the 
exception  of  our  party,  and  the  bar-maid,  and  the  individual 
who  was  reading.  In  the  farthest  corner  of  the  saloon,  near 
the  door,  two  men  were  seated  at  a  table,  with  a  pot  of  ale 
between  them.  They  were  talking  in  low  tones,  so  low  that 
we  could  not  hear  the  first  whisper  they  utterred ;  but  we 
noticed  that  they  were  earnest,  and  rather  apprehensive,  for 
they  often  glanced  towards  the  door,  and  seemed  to  shrink 
if  any  one  passed  it.  I  did  not  pay  much  attention  to  them, 
although  I  suspected  that  they  were  burglars ;  but  Murden 
scanned  them  closely,  while  I  was  ordering  the  ale. 

"  Tell  me  more  of  that  girl,"  I  said,  as  soon  as  she  turned 
towards  the  bar. 

"  Confound  your  curiosity !  She  is  the  daughter  of  the 
» Manchester  Pet.'  " 

"  And  who  is  the  *  Manchester  Pet '  ? " 

"  There  he  stands  behind  the  bar.  He  was  once  a  prize- 
fighter in  England,  and  even  to  this  day  he  delights  to  breai 
people's  heads,  unless  they  are  civil  to  him  and  his  daughter. 
But  here  comes  the  ale  and  cigars.  I'll  tell  you  more  of 
ib<9  matter  in  a  minute." 


36  THE  BUSHRANGEK8. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    PBIZE-FIGHTEB,    AND    HIS    DAUGHTEK. THE    BOW. 

THE    SIGNAL. 

"  Fifteen  years  ago,"  said  Murden,  raising  the  ale  to  his 
lips,  and  taking  a  long  and  refreshing  draught,  and  then 
smiling  at  the  bar-maid  in  token  that  he  appreciated  the 
quality  of  the  drink,  *'  the  Manchester  Pet  was  one  of  Eng- 
land's wonders.  His  correct  name  is  Sam  Sykes,  and  for 
ten  years  he  worked  at  bricklaying ;  but  as  he  had  had  two 
or  three  fights,  and  showed  great  pluck  and  powers  of  endur- 
ance, the  London  fancy  took  him  in  tow,  trained  him,  bet 
their  money  on  him,  and  matched  him  for  a  fight,  which  he 
won ;  and  he  continued  to  win  battles,  until,  in  one  contest, 
he  fortunately,  or  unfortunately,  just  as  you  please,  crushed 
his  opponent's  skull,  and  killed  him.  Well,  the  traps  or 
peelerr  of  England  didn't  look  at  the  matter  in  the  light  of 
a  joke  ;  so  they  searched  for  the  Pet,  discovered  him,  tried 
him  for  manslaughter,  found  him  guilty,  and  the  judge  sent 
him  to  this  country  for  five  years.  His  wife,  this  child,  and 
another  woman,  followed  him,  opened  a  bar,  and  supported 
themselves  until  the  Pet's  time  had  expired.  Miss  Jenny 
was  three  years  old  when  they  landed  at  Melbourne  ;  conse- 
quently she  is  eighteen  at  the  present  time.  Don't  look  at 
her  in  that  way,"  continued  Murden,  "  or  she  will  know  that 
we  are  talking  about  her." 

"  How  can  I  help  it  ? "  I  replied,  with  a  sigh ;  "  for  she  i3 
rery  beautiful." 

*^  Jist  like  my  Martha,"  muttered  Hez,  sucking  away  at 
his  cigar,  with  his  cap  on  the  back  of  his  head,  and  his  frank, 
open  face  once  more  clouded  at  the  thought  of  the  New 
Hampshire  beauty. 

"  Don't  be  spoony,"  cried  Murden.  "  She  is  not  the  sort 
of  w^/Qian  you  want  for  a  wife ;  and  as  for  a  mistress,  your 
life  would  not  be  safe  to  mention  such  a  thing.     She  is^a 


THE   PRIZE-FIGHTER  AND  HIS   DAUGHTER.  37 

jewel,  but  the  setting  is  not  such  as  you  would  like  for  per- 
manent wear.     Will  you  hear  the  rest  of  my  yarn  ?  '* 

"  With  pleasure,  or  ;  ather,  I  should  say,  with  pain  ;  for  it 
4oes  pain  me  to  think  that  so  beautiful  a  creature  should  be 
here,  surrounded  by  crime  and  wretchedness." 

''Don't  be  spoony,  I  tell  you,"  continued  Murden.  "It 
is  a  bad  sign  for  your  success  in  Australia." 

I  laughed,  and  withdrew  my  eyes  from  the  calm,  self, 
possessed  face  of  the  young  girl,  and  prepared  to  listen  to 
Murden ;  but  even  while  I  was  listening,  I  could  not  help 
thinking  that  with  such  a  companion  for  life,  my  career  in 
Australia  would  be  very  short.  Had  she  been  owned  by 
respectable  parents,  and  brought  up  in  seclusion,  I  might,  I 
thought,  have  seriously  contemplated  a  short  courtship  ;  but 
a  prize-fighter's  daughter,  and  a  bar-maid  —  this  was  too 
much. 

"  What,  in  the  devil's  name,  are  you  thinking  of  ? "  asked 
Murden,  who  had  talked  for  some  time,  but  whose  words  I 
did  not  understand,  because  my  mind  was  filled  with  other 
matters. 

"  I  have  heard  all  that  you  said,"  I  replied. 

"  Nonsense  !  I  know  better.  You  were  thinking  of  that 
girl's  blue  eyes.'* 

"  Jist  like  Martha's,"  muttered  Hez,  looking  at  the  bottom 
of  his  pewter  beer  pot. 

"  Go  on  with  your  yarn.  I  will  hear  it,  unless  you  are  too 
tedious,"  I  said. 

"Well,  I  will  be  as  brief  as  possible,  although  you  don't 
deserve  such  mercy.  As  I  said  before,  the  party  arrived  at 
Melbourne  with  a  little  money.  They  went  into  the  public- 
house  business,  and  the  Manchester  Pet  went  up  the  country 
and  into  the  road-mending  line.  He  used  his  strength  to 
some  advantage,  was  civil  and  obliging,  helped  the  overseers 
to  subdue  several  rebellious  convicts,  and,  in  the  course  of 
two  years,  was  enabled  to  rejoin  his  wife  and  child  as  a 
ticket-of-leave  man.  The  family  had  managed  to  exist,  and 
save  a  little  money.  The  Pet  knew  how  to  dispose  of  it  to 
advantage.     He  rented  this  place,  the  Red  Lion,  and  cus' 


38  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

vomers  crowded  around  him.  He  made  money,  and  now  it 
reported  worth  something  handsome." 

"  And  the  daughter  —  has  she  remained  with  him  evei 
since  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  she  was  not  allowed  to  groif 
up  in  entire  ignorance.  She  has  received  a  little  education ; 
knows  how  to  read  and  write  after  a  fashion ;  but  that  is 
about  all." 

"  Jist  like  my  Martha,"  cried  Hez  ;  and  then  recollecting 
that  he  had  made  a  mistake,  he  added,  "  except  that  Martha 
knows  most  everything." 

"  Anything  more  ? "  I  asked. 

"No,  with  the  exception  that  the  Manchester  Pet  saw  that 
his  daughter's  beauty  attracted  custom ;  so  he  has  kept  her 
behind  the  bar  ever  since  her  mother's  death." 

"  Then  her  mother  is  dead  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  died  some  years  since."  At  this  moment  the 
Manchester  Pet  seemed  to  have  finished  his  reading,  for  he 
folded  up  the  paper  in  a  dignified  manner ;  and,  as  he  laid 
it  under  the  counter,  remarked  to  his  daughter,  in  rather 
an  animated  tone,  — 

"  The  Birmingham  Chicken  and  the  Dublin  Porcupine 
have  made  a  match,  and  will  fight  for  the  belt  in  October." 

"  What's  the  stakes  ? "  asked  the  young  lady,  looking  up 
with  an  unusual  degree  of  interest. 

"  Two  hundred  pounds." 

"  Which's  the  best  man  ? "  continued  the  young  lady  with 
the  dark  blue  eyes. 

"  0,  the  Chicken.  He's  got  more  science  than  the  Por- 
cupine. I'll  bet  on  him,  and  give  the  odds  —  not  much, 
you  know,  but  a  little." 

Murden  touched  me  with  his  foot,  and  laughed  beneath  his 
false  beard.     "  What  do  you  think  now  ? "  he  asked. 

I  was  a  little  disconcerted  by  the  conversation  of  the  blu3- 
eyed  buauty,  but  still  I  was  not  disgusted.  Man  will  stan»i 
much  nonsense  when  it  is  backed  by  a  handsome  woman'? 
race.  Perhaps,  if  I  had  been  her  husband,  I  should  not  have 
liked  it.     As  it  was,  I  thought  that  such  unwomanly  conver* 


THE   PRIZE-FIGHTER   AND   H[S    DAUGHTER.  39 

sation  could  be  cured  or  abolished  in  the  course  of  time, 
provided  the  girl  had  a  teacher  whom  she  loved.  But  whil« 
I  was  ruminating,  — regretfully,  perhaps, — the  Pet  left  th« 
bar,  yawned,  stretched  his  enormous  limbs,  glanced  ar;)und 
the  saloon,  looked  at  the  two  men  who  were  in  the  corner 
near  the  door,  hesitated  for  a  moment  as  though  he  had  half 
a  mind  to  speak  to  them,  and  then  his  sharp  eyes  fell  upon 
as,  and  he  seemed  to  look  us  over  in  an  instant.  Then  he 
same  towards  our  party. 

"  Well,  ray  men,  how's  the  beer  ? "  he  asked. 

*'  So  good,"  I  answered,  "  that  we  want  more  of  it." 

*'  Jenny,  more  beer  here,"  cried  the  Pet,  turning  to  his 
daughter. 

"Are  you  in  search  of  a  ship?"  asked  the  Pet,  as  the 
blue-eyed  girl  took  our  pots. 

"  We  wouldn't  mind  if  we  had  a  good  offer,"  Murden 
replied. 

"  Come  to  me  if  you  want  to  cut  and  run  for  it,"  said  the 
Pet,  under  the  impression  that  we  thought  of  running  away, 
and  would  need  a  chance  to  ship.  "  I  can  find  you  a  good 
vessel  and  good  wages." 

*'  I  will  talk  with  you  on  the  subject  some  other  time,"  I 
said.  "  We  shan't  go  on  board  for  twenty-four  hours. 
We've  got  liberty  for  that  length  of  time." 

During  this  conversation,  the  bar-maid  had  suspended  her 
labors,  and  listened  to  our  words  with  much  attention.  Her 
eyes  wandered  from  face  to  face,  and  at  last  rested  on  mine, 
with  a  long,  steady  stare,  as  though,  she  was  determined  to 
remember  it  in  case  we  again  met.  I  had  removed  the 
common  cap  that  covered  my  head,  and  I  must  confess  that 
vanity  prompted  me  to  the  act,  and  I  will  also  acknowledge 
*hat  I  was  not  a  bad-looking  fellow  when  I  was  dressed  as  a 
haman  being,  and  not  as  a  monkey,  which,  I  feared,  the  Scotch 
cap  made  me  resemble.  The  Pet  winked,  yawned,  and  then 
walked  towards  the  door,  as  though  he  was  about  to  look  up 
some  customers ;  but,  not  finding  any  on  the  sidewalk,  the 
publican  walked  off  for  a  short  distance,  and  no  sooner  did 
he  disappear  than  the  two  men  in  the  farther  corner  of  the 


40  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

saloon  —  the  same  fellows  who  had  whispered  together  so 
earnestly  all  the  time  that  we  were  present  —  arose  and 
walked  towards  the  door,  which  was  near  them.  They 
attempted  to  open  it,  but  found  it  locked ;  and,  with  an  air 
of  surprise,  they  turned  to  the  bar-maid. 

"  Miss  Jenny,"  they  asked,  *'  what  is  the  ioor  locked 
for?" 

*'  To  keep  out  those  whom  we  do  not  wish  to  enter,"  was 
the  pert  reply. 

*'  Damn  it,  what  do  you  mean  by  that  ? "  one  of  them 
asked. 

"Just  what  I  said.  Father  don't  want  you  to  enter  the 
private  room  until  you  pay  what  you  owe." 

"  Do  you  think  that  we  intend  to  bilk  you  out  of  your  pay? 
We  have  — "  Before  the  fellow  could  finish  his  sentence 
his  companion  put  his  hand  over  his  mouth  and  stopped  him. 

Murden  and  I  exchanged  glances.  My  friend  leaned  over 
and  whispered  to  me,  *'  I  know  them  both,  now  that  I 
have  seen  their,  faces.  Both  of  them  have  been  confined  in 
the  hulks,  and  both  of  them  enjoyed  the  reputation,  in  Eng- 
land, of  being  daring  burglars.  One  of  them  I  suspect 
is  — "  Murden  did  not  conclude  his  account,  for  the  sus- 
pected men,  who  seemed  furious  at  the  idea  of  being  de- 
barred from  entering  the  private  parlor,  raised  their  feet  and 
kicked  at  the  panels  of  the  door,  as  though  they  meant  to 
break  them  in.  Miss  Jenny  did  not  manifest  the  least  sign 
of  alarm.  She  did  not  exhibit  the  least  tremor,  nor  did  her 
sweet  face  flush  with  an  indignant  blush,  as  she  walked  to- 
wards the  two  luen  who  were  committing  the  assault  on  the 
door. 

*'  Pat  Doland  and  Bill  Thrasher,"  said  the  young  girl, 
*' you'll  get  your  heads  knocked  off  unless  you  stop  that 
noise,  and  go  about  your  business.  Father  is  only  a  few 
steps  from  here.     If  you  don't  stop  I'll  caU  him." 

"  "Will  you  open  the  door  ? "  demanded  the  fellow  whom 
she  called  Pat  Doland. 

"  No ;  I'll  call  father  first,"  was  the  firm  answ3r ;  and  ] 
looked  at  the  dark  blue-eyed  girl  with  increased  admiration 


THE  ROW.  4J 

"  Your  fatlier  be  d — d,"  was  the  reply  of  the  men.  "  We 
can  pay  him  what  we  owe  him,  and  a  hundred  times  more, 
but  not  to-night.  Let  us  into  the  private  parlor,  where  we 
can  settle  a  little  matter." 

*'  You  can't  go  in,"'  she  answered. 

With  an  angry  oath  the  men  dashed  at  the  door ;  but  as 
they  kicked  at  it,  Jenny  threw  herself  in  front  of  them,  s^j 
that  they  could  not  touch  the  door  unless  they  injured  her 
person.  I  arose  from  my  seat,  but  Murden  laid  his  hand  on 
my  arm. 

*'  Don't  interfere,"  he  said.  "  The  quarrel  is  none  of 
yours." 

Perhaps  I  should  have  taken  his  advice,  had  not  the  fellow 
who  was  known  as  Thrasher  suddenly  raised  his  hand,  and 
struck  the  sweet-faced  Jenny  upon  her  shoulder,  so  fair  and 
white. 

"  Coward ! "  she  cried ;  but  she  did  not  leave  her  place 
near  the  door. 

I  could  not  stand  that.  So  I  left  my  seat,  in  spite  of 
Murden's  remonstrances,- and  ran  to  that  part  of  the  room 
where  the  ruffians  were  still  swearing  and  threatening  ven- 
geance on  Jenny  for  the  stand  she  had  taken.  In  my  move- 
ments I  was  none  too  soon.  Thrasher,  finding  that  oaths 
could  not  frighten  Jenny  from  her  position,  had  raised  his 
arm  for  the  second  time,  and  I  saw  that  it  was  directed  to- 
wards her  face. 

"  Take  that,  you ,"  cried  the  ruffian ;  and  his  heavy 

fist  was  about  to  fall,  when  I  struck  him  in  the  region  of  his 
right  ear,  and  over  he  went ;  but  in  an  instant  Doland  turned 
on  me,  to  revenge  the  fall  of  his  companion. 

"Blast  your  eyes  for  that,"  the  ruffian  said;  and  ho  left 
the  door  and  Jenny,  turning  square  round,  and  aimed  a  blow 
at  me  with  a  slung  shot,  which  he  took  from  his  pocket 
Luckily  I  saw  the  missile  coming,  and  had  a  chance  to  dodge. 
The  slung  shot  passed  within  a  few  inches  of  my  head,  and 
the  blow  was  so  well  intended  that  the  assailant  had  to  turn 
half  round  to  recover  his  balance  ;  and  he  had  hardly  done 
BO  before  he  fell  at  full  length  upon  the  floor  ;   and  looking 


42  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

up  I  saw  that  Hez  was  beside  me,  aud  Lad  done  a  inanlj 
part  with  his  strong  arm  and  hard  fist.  ^ 

"  Gol  davn  a  man  what  don't  fight  fair,"  lay  friend  said. 
"  If  I  can't  lick  a  man  with  my  mawlies,  I  won't  take  no 
slung  shots  or  knives,  I  won't." 

I  did  not  have  time  to  compliment  Hez  on  the  activity 
vrhich  he  displayed,  for  the  fallen  rufiians  were  moving,  and 
making  demonstrations.  I  saw  Doland  put  his  hand  in  his 
Boat  pocket ;  but  before  he  could  draw  his  pistol  I  was  kneel 
ing  beside  him,  with  one  hand  on  his  throat,  while  with  thi 
other  I  wrenched  the  pistol  from  his  jacket,  and  as  I  did  so, 
saw  that  Hez  was  following  my  example. 

In  the  mean  time  Miss  Jenny  had  maintained  her  positioD 
near  the  door,  looking  upon  our  proceedings  without  mani 
festing  the  slightest  alarm.  Perhaps  she  had  seen  too  many 
rows  to  care  for  them ;  or  perhaps  she  wanted  to  see  which 
would  come  out  best.  If  such  was  the  case,  she  must  have 
been  more  than  satisfied ;  for  she  said,  as  soon  as  we  had 
disarmed  the  ruffians,  "  Now  let  'em  up,  and  if  they  don't 
pay  and  go  ofi"  peaceable,  kick  'eni  into  the  street." 

"  You'll  regret  this,"  cried  Doland.  "  We  might  have 
spent  all  our  money  in  the  Red  Lion  ;  but  now  we'll  see  you 
hanged  first." 

"  Don't  be  impudent  to  the  lady,"  cried  Hez.  "  I'll  be 
gol  darned  if  I'll  stand  that,  you  know." 

"  I  don't  see  any  lady  here,"  answered  Thrasher.  *'  I  see 
a  bar-maid,  or  a  pot-girl,  I  don't  know  which.  Ladies  don't 
live  in  this  part  of  the  town." 

Jenny's  cheeks  flushed,  and  her  eyes  flashed ;  but  I  saw 
tliat  she  managed  to  retain  her  calm  exterior  in  spite  of  the 
insult. 

"  Shall  I  kick  them  into  the  street  ? "  I  asked  the  young 
girl. 

'*  No,"  was  her  prompt  answer  ;  "  they  are  not  worthy  of 
your  rage.  Let  them  go.  My  father  will  wax  'em  when  he 
hears  of  their  doings." 

As  she  spoke  the  Manchester  Pet  entered  the  saloon  ;  and 
bis  heavy  face  lighted  up  at  the  least  appearance  of  a  dis 


THE  ROW.  43 

turbance.  He  strode  towards  us,  and  asked,  "  Wnat'u  the 
matter,  girl  ? " 

*'  Doland  and  Thrasher  wanted  the  private  room.  I  told 
'em  that  they  couldn't  have  it.  They  insisted  that  the^ 
would  go  in,  raised  a  row,  and  struck  me,  and  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  these  two  coves  I  should  have  got  a  black  eye." 

TJie  face  of  the  Pet  was  fearful  to  behold  while  she  was 
relating  her  grievances.  He  set  his  heavy  jaws  firmly  to- 
gethei",  and  looked  as  though  he  was  about  to  enter  the  prize- 
ring  and  fight  a  desperate  battle  with  an  adversary  whom  he 
hated  most  terribly.  He  struck  his  huge  fists  together,  and 
then  rushed  on  Doland. 

*'  Keep  off,"  shouted  that  individual,  and  he  made  a  show 
of  placing  himself  in  a  boxing  attitude ;  but  the  rush  of  the 
Pet  was  like  that  of  an  enraged  bull.  He  bore  down  all 
opposition,  caught  Doland  around  the  waist,  struck  him  once 
or  twice  on  his  face,  and  then  carried  the  man  to  the  door, 
and  threw  him  into  the  street.  He  fell  with  a  crash,  and 
was  covered  with  blood  when  he  arose  and  staggered  off. 

The  Pet  returned  for  Thrasher ;  but  that  cautious  individ- 
ual dodged,  and  shouted,  "  Let  me  alone  ;  will  you  ? " 

The  Pet  made  a  rush,  but  Thrasher  avoided  him,  and  left 
the  saloon  in  a  hurry,  and  the  Pet  came  back,  after  a  vain 
pursuit. 

"  ril  break  their  blasted  necks,  some  day,"  muttered  the 
Pet,  as  he  went  behind  his  bar  and  refreshed  himself  with  a 
pot  of  porter.  *'  PU  kill  the  man  who  dares  to  insult  my 
darter." 

Jenny  whispered  a  word  to  her  ferocious  father,  and  he 
looked  at  us  for  a  moment  with  some  attention,  then  came 
towards-  us. 

"  Give  us  your  hand,  my  fine  feller,"  he  said.  "  You  is 
worthy  of  shaking  hands  with  me,  and  I  tell  you  that  is  an 
honor  I  don't  grant  all  sailor-men.'  You  floored  them 'ere 
coves,  and  the  gal  tells  me  that  you  did  it  in  style.  Now 
you  shall  take  a  drink  with  me.  Come,  girl,  bring  some 
ale,  and  draw  it  mild,  from  the  best  taps. 

The  giant  shook  hands  with  me  in  a  boisterous  mauoer, 


i4  THE   BUSHRANGEllS. 

and  then  jserved  Hez  and  Murden  the  same  way.  Jeun) 
brought  the  ale,  and  I  was  pleased  to  notice  that  the  mug 
which  contained  my  ale  was  brighter  than  the  rest,  and  that 
the  beer  was  more  lively  than  that  which  Hez  or  Murden  put 
to  their  mouths.  Did  I  argue  from  this  that  the  bar-maid 
appreciated  the  devotion  which  I  had  shown,  and  was  willing 
to  give  me  positive  proof,  in  her  own  delicate  way,  that  I 
was  not  disagreeable  to  her  ?  I  don't  know  that  I  thought 
much  about  it  that  night,  for  I  could  think  of  but  one  thing, 
and  that  was,  that  the  bar-maid  was  the  handsomest  woman 
I  had  ever  seen,  and  that  I  wished  that  she  was  in  a  dif- 
ferent sphere  of  life,  so  that  I  could  feel  as  though  she  was 
worthy  of  my  love." 

"  You  coves  has  acted  in  ship-shape  fashion,"  said  the  Pet, 
bringing  his  hand  down  upon  the  table  with  such  force  that 
the  pots  jumped  several  inches. 

"Keep  your  hands  quiet,"  said  the  girl,  for  she-stiD 
remained  near  us. 

"  All  right,  lass,"  the  Pet  answered.  "  I'll  mind  my  eye. 
You  go  behind  the  bar,  and  I'll  talk  with  the  sailor-men." 
But  the  girl  did  not  obey,  for  she  sat  down  near  the  table, 
and  looked  at  me  attentively,  as  though  she  had  seen  me 
before,  and  wanted  to  recall  the  time  and  place. 

The  Pet  did  not  notice  it.  He  commenced  talking  with 
us,  praised  us  for  what  we  had  done,  and  intimated  that  Lis 
house  was  open  to  us  in  case  we  were  disposed  to  run  away 
from  our  ships. 

*'  Don't  talk  nonsense,  father,  "said  the  girl.  "  Don't  you 
see  that  this  man  is  no  sailor  ? "  She  pointed  to  me,  and 
the  Pet  cast  his  eyes  over  us  as  though  to  judge  of  the  fruth 
of  her  assertion. 

"How  is  it,  youngster?  beau't  you  a  sailor-man  ?  '  he 
asked. 

*'  Look  at  his  hands,"  said  the  girl.  Her  sharp  eyef; 
had  noticed  that  they  were  too  soft  and  clean  to  pass  for  £. 
sailor's. 

Before  I  could  answer,  some  one  entered  the  door  of 
the  saloon,  and  remained  there  a  few  seconds  ;   and  during 


MRS.   TROTTER'S   CASTLE.  45 

that  time  I  saw  him  make  a  signal  with  his  hands,  and  then 
return  to  the  street,  as  though  the  person  he  was  in  search 
af  could  not  be  found  in  the  Red  Lion.  The  Fet  arose., 
stretched  his  huge  arms,  and  said  he  was  going  out  for  a 
walk. 

"  Look  to  the  bar,  lass,"  he  said ;  "  and  doa't  charge* 
these  coves  for  their  drink.     I'll  come  back  afore  long." 

He  left  the  saloon,  and  just  as  he  cleared  the  threshold^ 
iMurden  said,  "  We  must  move,  lads,  or  we  shan't  see  much 
sport  in  Melbourne  to-night.  You  pay,  Jack,  for  I  want  a 
little  fresh  air ;  "  and  off  Murden  walked. 

As  I  threw  down  a  couple  of  shillings  on  the  counter,  and 

turned  to  leave  the  saloon,  Jenny  laid  her  hand  on  my  arm, 

and  looked  up  at  me  with  a  pair  of  eyes  that  a  princess 

might  have  been  proud  of.     What  man  could  hesitate  when 

ich  orbs  asked  for  a  moment's  conversation  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 


MRS.    TROTTER  S    CASTLE. 


As  the  handsome  bar-maid  laid  her  white  hand,  covered 
with  diamond  rings,  upon  my  shoulder,  I  saw  Murden  stand- 
ing  on  the  sidewalk,  and  signalizing  me  to  make  haste 
and  join  him ;  but  how  could  I  leave  such  a  pair  of  eyes  in 
a  hurry  ? 

"Let  me  speak  with  you,"  she  said.  *' Will  you  listen 
10  me } " 

"  Yes,  for  an  hour,  if  you  will  not  tire  of  my  company." 

She  did  not  blush  or  smile  at  the  compliment ;  but  sho 
fixed  her  calm  blue  eyes  on  my  face,  and  said,  "  Tell  me 
your  occupation." 

"  Does  not  my  dress  proclaim  it  ? "  I  answered. 

"  No,  it  does  not.  What  is  your  business  ?  Are  you  like 
most  of  tlie  company  that  come  here  ?     Do  not  deceive  me." 


46  THE    BUSHRANGERS. 

*'  What  do  you  suspect  ?  " 

"  That  you  and  your  companions  are  cracksmen,"  -was  the 
prompt  answer  ;  and  those  blue  eyes  did  not  relax  the  firm- 
ness of  their  gaze  when  the  words  were  spoken. 

"  Well,  what  more  ? "  I  asked,  in  as  calm  a  tone  as  I 
could  assume. 

*'  Then  turn  your  attention  to  other  business,  or  come  here 
no  more,"  was  the  low  answer. 

I  looked  at  her  in  surprise.  "  Do  you  forbid  me  to  se« 
you  again  ? "  I  asked. 

"Yes,  unless  you  can  come  here  as  an  honest  man 
Look  you,  covey;  you  have  done  me  a  service  to-night. 
I  am  grateful,  womanly  grateful,  and  for  that  reason  I  would 
save  you.  You  are  surprised ;  but  you  would  not  be  if  I 
told  you  all.  If  you  have  committed  a  robbery,  come  not 
here  with  the  proceeds,  for  you  will  lose  your  liberty  and 
all  your  unlawful  gains.  Do  I  speak  plain  enough  ?  " 
"  Yes,  but  I  have  no  fear." 

*'  I  tell  you  that  you  will  be  sold,  and  yet  I  cannot  inform 
you  who  will  do  it." 
"  I  can  suspect." 
"  And  yet  keep  a  secret  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  it  belongs  to  you."  I  bowed,  and  would  have 
taken  the  lady's  hand,  but  she  drew  back  and  stood  on  her 
dignity. 

*'  Hands  off,"  she  said,  with  a  slight  flush  on  each  cheek. 
"  I  want  no  love-making.     I  cannot  stoop  to  a  cracksman  or 
a  bushranger ;  and  an  honest  man  would  not  bend  to  me." 
"  Will  you  come  ? "  shouted  Murden  from  the  door. 
"  In  one  moment,"  I  answered.     "  To-morrow  I  will  call 
'*and  see  you.     Are  you  willing  ? "  I  said  in  a  low  tone. 

"  The  saloon  is  open  for  customers,"  was  the  answer. 
"If  you  come,  appear  with  clean  hands,  and  talk  but  little 
with  my  father.  You  understand  me  ? "  and  as  she  asked 
the  question,  she  raised  lier  dark-blue  eyes,  and  gave  me  a 
look  that  I  could  not  mistake.  It  told  me  as  plain  as  words 
that  her  father  was  in  the  habit  of  selling  to  the  police  those 


MKS.   TKOTTER'S   CASTLE.  47 

adventuri/us  gentlemen  who  risked  their  lives  and  liberty  foi 
the  sake  of  silver  ware,  gold,  or  colony  bank  notes. 

"  I  thank  you,"  T  said,  "  I  have  no  fear." 

"  So  others  have  said,  and  met  with  misfortunes.  Let  me 
warn  you  in  time." 

"  From  your  words  it  is  evident  that  you  do  not  think  I 
am  a  sailor,"  I  remarked ;  for  I  relished  her  company  so 
much  that  I  prolonged  the  conversation  in  spite  of  Murdeu'a 
impatience. 

"  You  are  no  more  of  a  sailor  than  I  am.  You  are 
fi-om  Sydney,  and  have  just  arrived  in  Melbourne." 

"  Gro  on.     You  are  good  at  guessing." 

*'  You  were  compelled  to  leave  Sydney  for  fear  of  the 
traps." 

"  That  is  enough  for  one  night.  I  will  hear  the  rest 
when  I  call  to-morrow,"  and  I  left  her  and  joined  Murden, 

"  I  thought  that  you  meant  to  talk  all  night,"  that  amiable 
gentleman  said.  "  I  am  afraid  that  I  have  missed  my  game 
by  delay." 

"Well,  it  is  not  often  that  a  man  has  a  chance  to  talk 
mth  a  pretty  woman  in  this  part  of  the  world.  They  are 
not  over  plentiful,  as  you  must  be  aware." 

"  I  thought  that  you  cared  nothing  about  women  ?  " 

"  I  don't,  for  homely  ones." 

"  Bah !  that  bar-maid  has  turned  your  head,  and  it  will 
take  six  months  in  the  bush  to  cure  you.  But  come  along. 
I  have  work  that  will  interest  you." 

He  led  the  way  along  the  rough  sidewalk,  and  at  last  we 
turned  down  a  narrow  lane,  dark,  dirty,  and  prolific  of  bad 
Broells,  and  then  halted  near  a  cellar  lighted  by  a  spluttering 
candle. 

"In  the  name  of  thunder,  what  did  you  bring  us  her? 
for  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Hush !  not  a  word,"  answered  Murden  in  a  whisper. 
"  Step  back  a  little,  so  that  no  one  can  see  us."  We  retired 
to  the  shelter  of  an  overhanging  roof  attached  to  a  low 
wooden  building,  which  was  directly  opposite  the  collar. 

"Feel  to  the  right  and  left,"  whispered  Murden.     "  V/e 


18  TUE  BUSHRANGERS. 

want  no  listeners  here."  We  felt  our  way  to  each  end  of 
the  building,  and  returned  without  making  any  discoveries. 

"  Now,  then,  what  is  the  project  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Before  I  answer  the  question,  let  your  friend,  Mr. 
Hopeful,  enter  the  cellar  opposite,  and  buy  a  candle,  or 
make  some  excuse,  and  while  there  let  him  take  a  rapid 
survey,  and  note  if  the  two  men  whom  we  saw  at  the  Red 
Lion  are  in  the  place.  If  they  are,  say  nothing  to  them; 
out  return  as  soon  as  possible.  If  no  one  is  there  but  an 
old  woman,  ask  her  if  she  has  lodging  rooms  to  let.  Tell 
her  that  you  want  to  hire,  for  the  night,  a  room  for  yourself 
and  friends.  When  she  comes  out  of  the  cellar  to  show  you 
the  rooms,  we  will  join  you,  and  pretend  to  be  drunk.  Do 
you  understand,  Mr.  Hopeful  ?  " 

"  I  rather  think  that  I  do,"  answered  Hez,  confidently, 
and  away  he  went. 

"  Now,  Murden,"  I  asked,  "  what  does  this  mean  ?  It  haa 
some  significance,  I  know." 

"  To  be  sure  it  does,"  answered  the  ex-police  commis- 
sioner.    "  You  noticed  the  two  men  at  the  Red  Lion  ? " 

*'  Of  course.  I  knocked  one  of  them  down.  You  saw 
the  operation  ;  and  I  ask  you,  as  an  Englishman  and  a  friend 
of  the  prize-ring,  if  the  blow  which  I  struck  was  not  a  scien- 
tific one." 

"  Nonsense  !  Listen  to  me,"  said  Murden.  "  While  those 
two  fellows  were  talking,  I  caught  a  few  of  their  words,  and 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  rascals  lodged  here." 

"  Well,  what  of  it  ? " 

"  Only  this :  those  two  men,  I  think,  have  got  her  lady- 
fhip''s  diamonds." 

"The  devil  they  have  !  What  ground  have  you  for  such 
suspicion  ? " 

"  ]  haven't  time  to  tell  you  all;  but  I  am  determined  to 
sec  if  my  surmises  are  correct.  If  they  are,  my  road  to 
preferment  is  sure,  and  then  you  and  your  friend  can  com- 
mand me  at  all  times." 

"  Thank  you.     Here  comes  Hez." 

Hopeful  could  be  dimly  seen  emerging  from  the  cellar, 


I 


MRS.    fROTTER'S  CASTLE.  4S 

and  following  him  was  an  old  woman  hideous  with  crinkles, 
tobacco,  and  snuff.  "We  crossed  the  street,  and  stood  before 
them,  swaying  back  and  forth,  as  though  we  were  under  the 
influence  of  liquor. 

*'  I  has  a  room  that'll  suit  ye  ,divil  fear  ye  but  it  will,"  cried 
the  woman,  unlocking  the  oatside  door,  and  bidding  us 
sater. 

"  Ye  are  sailor-men,  ain't  ye  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Yes,  mother,  we've  smelt  of  salt  water,"  answered 
Murden. 

"  And  ye  has  run  from  yer  ships  ?  Don't  deny  it,  ye 
divils ;  "  and  the  old  woman  chuckled. 

Murden  pretended  to  hesitate,  as  though  he  feared  to 
make  a  confession. 

"  Don't  mind  me,"  lads,  the  hag  said ;  "  I'll  keep  ye  safe. 
Divil  a  bit  shall  the  purlice  find  ye ;  and  when  yer  ship  ie 
gone,  I'll  get  ye  another.  Now,  tell  me  the  truth,  ye  di-^ils, 
has  ye  any  money  ? " 

"  Hain't  we  got  some,"  replied  Murden  ;  and  he  produced 
a  few  shillings,  and  shook  them  in  the  old  woman's  face. 

"  Give  me  one  for  the  lodgin',"  she  cried ;  "  it's  chape  for  a 
shillin'.  The  beds  is  illegant.  Divil  a  better  can  be  found 
in  all  'Stralia,  and  ye'U  say  so  in  the  mornin*."  Murden  put 
a  shilling  in  her  withered  palm.  She  slipped  the  silver  into 
her  bosom,  and  then  led  the  way  up  a  flight  of  rickety  stairs. 

"  Have  you  many  lodgers,  mother } "  asked  Murden,  as  we 
reached  the  first  landing. 

*'  Only  two,  as  nice  gintlemen  as  ever  lived ;  but  it's  little 
they  sleep  in  the  night  time.  Day  is  night  for  them.  13ut 
they  pay  well,  and  what  more  can  I  ask  } " 

"Do  they  sleep  on  the  next  floor,  or  on  this.'^"  asked 
Marten. 

"  Sure,  it's  on  this  floor,  and  in  the  illegant  room  that 
overlooks  the  big  yard.  Ye  can  have  the  front  room  if  ye 
want  it,  but  I  must  have  another  shillin'." 

''  Well,  it's  dear,  but  take  it,"  said  Murden,  who  for  the 
past  five  minutes  had  been  supporting  me,  as  though  I  was 
ander  the  influence  of  liquor,  and  needed  a  bed. 


*ii>  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

The  old  hag  dropped  the  money  into  her  boso  n,  and  then 
unlocked  the  door,  and  ushered  us  into  an  apartment  that 
contained  a  number  of  dirty  blankets  in  one  corner,  a  pine 
table  covered  with  grease,  and  about  a  thousand  flies  and 
fleas  to  the  square  inch. 

"  Ah !  this  is  comfortable,"  cried  Murden,  as  though  he 
had  been  accustomed  to  such  lodgings  all  of  his  life  "  Heie 
we  have  everything . that  one  can  desire,  except  pipes,  to- 
bac30,  and  beer."        , 

"  Sure,  I  have  all  of  'em  in  the  cellar,  and  for  money  y« 
mn  have  'em." 
'^'  And  a  candle  ?  " 
*'  Yes,  the  best  in  Melbourne." 

Murden  put  a  third  shilling  into  her  hand,  and  it  went  the 
way  of  the  others. 

"  I'll  bring  'em,  I'll  bring  'em  up,"  the  hag  said  ;  and  leav- 
ing the  light  on  the  table,  she  felt  her  way  down  stairs  in  the 
dark,  and  closed  the  outer  door  after  her.  As  soon  as  she 
had  done  this,  Murden  took  the  candle  and  examined  the 
wall  which  separated  the  front  and  back  rooms.  The  par- 
tition was  composed  of  rough^ boards,  unjointed  and  un- 
painted,  with  knot-holes  in  many  of  them,  and  rat-holes  11 
all  of  those  near  the  floor. 

As  soon  as  Murden  had  finished  his  survey,  he  went  to  the 
door  of  the  back  room,  found  that  it  was  locked,  and  by  the 
aid  of  some  soft  wax,  took  an  impression  of  the  key -hole, 
then  returned  to  the  room  and  examined  it  by  the  light. 
"  I  can  pick  it  in  two  minutes,"  he  said. 
•'  vVhat  in  the  devil's  name  do  you  mean  to  do  ? "  I 
usked.  ♦ 

"I  mean  to  enter  that  back  room  before  morning,"  wae 
the  answer. 

Before  I  had  time  to  ask  another  question,  the  old  woman's 
neet  were  heard  on  the  stairs.  She  reached  the  room,  and 
placed  the  pipes,  tobacco,  and  beer  on  the  table. 

"  Better  stuff  can't  be  found  in  all  Melbourne,"  she  said, 
"  although  it's  I  that  say  it." 

She  stood  surveying  us  for  a  moment   and  then,  finding 


MRS.   TROTTER'S  CASTLE.  51 

that  we  did  not  want  any  more  of  her  stock,  stuck  tne  candle 
in  the  neck  of  a  bottle,  and  left  us.  An  hour  passed  away, 
and  no  one  entered  the  house.  We  had  smoked  haif  a 
dozen  pipefuls  of  tobacco,  when  Murden  laid  his  pipe  dowr , 
took  from  his  pocket  a  piece  of  strong,  crooked  wire,  cut 
the  candle  in  halves,  took  off  his  shoes,  and  crept  noiselessly 
towards  the  door. 

"  Do  you  want  my  help  ? "  I  asked. 

"  You  may  come  if  you  please,  and  let  Mr.  Honeful  stand 
at  the  head  of  the  stairs  and  give  warning  the  instant  he 
hears  a  key  put  in  the  outside  lock.     Remember,  no  noise." 

We  extins^uished  the  lio;ht  in  the  front  room,  and  then 
went  to  the  landing.  •  All  was  quiet  in  the  house,  with  the 
exception  of  the  rats.  Murden  felt  for  the  key-hole  of  the 
back  door,  and  inserted  the  wire  in  it,  and  worked  it  back 
and  forth,  until  the  bolt  slipped  ;  and  then  he  turned  the  han- 
dle of  the  door,  and  we  entered  the  room.  The  apartment 
was  precisely  like  the  front  one,  and  furnished  in  the  same 
style.  But  we  did  not  stop  to  notice  matters  particularly, 
for  we  had  other  motives  in  visiting  the  room,  and  to  satisfy 
ourselves  we  overhauled  the  blankets,  examined  every  corner 
of  the  apartment,  and  yet  nothing  but  a  few  dirty  pieces  of 
clothing  met  our  view.  For  the  first  time  Murden's  face 
wore  an  expression  of  dejection,  as  though  he  had  been  dis- 
appointed, and  hardly  knew  which  way  to  turn  to  retrieve 
his  fortune. 

"  We  must  give  it  up,"  he  whispered,  after  we  had  exam- 
ined the  floor  to  see  if  there  were  not  some  boards  which 
had  been  recently  disturbed,  and  found  that  there  was  no 
appearance  of  such  a  thing.  '*  I  am  inclined  to  think  thai 
the  diamonds  are  ^wt  here.  The  rogues  have  buried  them 
or  left  them  at  some  pal's  house." 

"  Let  us  examine  the  walls,"  I  said.  *'  I  don't  feel  like 
giving  it  up  in  this  way." 

" It  is  useless,"  said  Murden.  "I  am  satisfied  that  tne 
jewels  are  not  here.  Her  ladyship  will  have  to  weep  for  hei 
less  a  few  weeks  longer." 

"And  we  ii^.ust  remain  here  all  night?"  T  asked,   as  1 


52  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

kicked  at  a  rat  that  was  advancing  towards  me  with  hostile 
intentions. 

*'  Yes  ;  I  suppose  so." 

*'  Then  let  iis  arrange  the  partition  so  that  we  can  heai 
some  conversation  if  the  occupants  of  this  room  should  re- 
turn before  we  leave  the  house." 

"  By  Jove  !  but  there  is  something  in  that,"  exclaimed  my 
friend.     "  A  word  may  lead  us  to  the  scent." 

He  drew  his  bowie  knife  and  commenced  cutting  at  the 
boards  of  the  partition,  and  I  imitated  his  example  ;  but  botl 
of  us  worked  so  cautiously  that  we  did  not.  kave  traces  of 
our  handiwork  so  that  suspicion  would  be  excited.  We  had 
just  finished  our  peek-holes,  when  Hopeful  opened  the  door, 
and  whispered,  "  Some  one  is  coming." 

In  an  instant  we  put  out  the  light  and  stole  from  the  room, 
Murden  locking  the  door  with  the  skeleton  key,  and  while  he 
was  thus  employed,  the  street  door  was  thrown  open  ;  but 
luckily  the  current  of  air  extinguished  Mrs.  Trotter's  candle, 
and  left  the  lady  in  darkness. 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

THE    EXPLORATION. THE    QUARREL    AND   THE    MITRDER. 

Mas.  Trotter  was  not  a  delicate-minded  female.  In 
fact,  she  often  gave  vent  to  expressions  which  masculine 
ears  should  never  hear  in  the  presence  of  woman,  whom  wc 
regard  as  pure  and  heavenly,  and  worthy  of  the  best  place 
at  the  breakfast  table,  the  best  seat  in  the  concert  hall,  and 
the  most  comfortable  box  at  the  opera ;  and  in  return  for  all 
this  we  only  ask  that  she  will  love  us,  that  she  will  dress  to 
please  us,  and  that  she  will  take  care  of  our  children  when 
she  has  nothing  else  to  do  ;  therefore,  when  the  candle  was 
exting  lished,  and  that  amiable  lady,  who  carried  the  candle- 
stick, exclaimed,  in  a  harsh  voice,  "  Curse  everything  an  incb 


THE  EXPLOEATIOHT.  5S 

high!"  I,  for  one,  felt  shocked;  and  Hez,  no  doubt,  was 
very  much  grieved. 

"  What  did  you  let  the  light  out  for  ? "  asked  one  of  Mre 
Trotter's  companions.  *'  You  old  fool,  didn't  you  knov 
better  ? " 

"That is  one  of  our  Red  Lion  friends,"  whispered  Murden 

*'  Ye  is  smart  beauties,  ye  is,  to  call  a  woman  old  enougl 
to  be  yer  wife  a  fool.  It's  the  party  up  stairs  that  wouldn't 
do  it,  or  I'm  no  judge." 

"  A  party  up  stairs  ? "  cried  both  men,  eagerly.  ''  'WTiat 
do  you  mean?  Who  are  they,  and  when  did  they  come 
here  ? " 

"  And  do  you  s'pose  I'll  answer  all  yer  questions  ?  Don't 
I  keep  a  lodgin'  house,  and  didn't  the  three  sailor-men  pay 
me  for  pipes  and  the  beer,  and  a  shillin'  for  the  beds  ? " 

"  The  beds ! "  cried  the  two  men,  with  shrill  laughs. 
*'  Your  beds  consist  of  a  blanket  and  a  million  fleas." 

The  old  woman  uttered  a  malediction,  and  hobbled  off  for 
a  light,  leaving  the  fellows  in  the  entry ;  and  although  they 
lowered  their  voices  almost  to  a  whisper,  we  could  hear 
what  they  said. 

"  The  d— d  traps  are  not  on  our  trail,  are  they  ? "  one  of 
them  asked. 

"  Nonsense  !  What  should  make  you  think  that  ?  We  ain't 
known  in  Melbourne,  and  I've  not  seen  a  Sydney  trap  since 
I've  been  here.  I  tell  you  we  are  safe  enough  if  we  only 
work  our  cards  right,  and  when  we  once  dispose  of  our  — " 

*'  But  these  fellows  up  stairs  —  what  of  them  ? " 

"  They  are  drunken  or  runaway  sailors,  and  the  last  men 
m  the  world  to  suspect  us.  No  doubt  they  are  snoring  off 
the  effect  of  the  liquor  which  they  have  drunk ;  so  don't  be 
alarmed  at  phantoms  of  your  own  conjuring  up."  At  this 
instant  the  old  woman  returned  with  the  lighted  candle, 
which  they  took  .from  her  hand.  We  withdrew  into  our  own 
room,  and  closed  the  door  so  softly  that  a  rat  would  i:-5 
have  been  disturbed  by  the  noise. 

"Now,  Hopeful,"  cried  Murden,  in  a  whisper,  "can  you 
imitate  snoring  ? " 


64  THE   BUSHRANGEE8. 

•'  Gol  darn  it,  I  can  do  it  so  nicely  that  you'll  be  tempted 
to  throw  a  boot  at  me  afore  I've  been  underw£.y  two  min- 
•itcs,"  replied  my  original  friend. 

"  Then  start  it  at  once,  but  don't  overdo  the  matter." 
Accordingly  Hez  took  a  seat  on  the  floor,  leaned  his  back 
against  the  partition,  and  started  his  nasal  music,  whicl^ 
sounded  like  distant  thunder. 

We  waited  until  Doland  and  Thrasher  made  their  way  up 
the  crazy  staircase  and  unlocked  their  doer,  and  then  we 
applied  our  eyes  to  the  peep-holes.  I  saw  that  Doland  was 
Hnder  the  influence  of  liquor,  but  not  so  much  as  to  make 
him  reckless  and  noisy ;  while  Thrasher,  who  looked  like  a 
cool  hand  at  roguery,  seemed  quite  sober.  The  men  took 
a  hasty  survey  of  their  apartment ;  put  the  light  on  the 
table,  and  pulled  up  two  empty  boxes  and  sat  down  on  them. 
As  soon  as  they  were  seated  they  took  out  their  pipes, 
filled  them,  and  commenced  smoking ;  but  they  had  taken 
CDly  a  few  Whig's  when  Doland  raised  his  head  and  lis- 

"  What,  in  the  devil's  name,  is  that  noise  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  It's  the  drunken  sailors  in  the  next  room,"  answered 
Thrasher.  "  A  crash  of  thunder  would  not  start  thorn. 
Let  them  snore,  although  I'm  sorry  the  old  woman  took  them 
in.  If  we  get  rid  of  the  shiners,  we  leave  for  the  mines  for 
a  few  months,  and  then  say  that  we  have  made  a  lucky  hit ; 
and  who  is  to  deny  it  ?  " 

"  We  might  have  settled  matters  with  the  Pet,  if  we  had 
only  hinted  what  we  wanted  the  private  room  for,"  Doland 
snarled. 

"  Yes,  and  had  the  brute  claim  one  half  for  aommissions, 
[  know  the  cove  by  reputation.  Didn't  Sandy-TIaired  Bob 
tell  me  all  about  him  ?  " 

"  But  his  girl  is  a  good  looker,"  muttered  Doland. 
*'  I  never  saw  a  handsomer  piece  of  calico  in  my  life." 

••  But  she  ain't  for  the  like  of  us ;  so  it's  no  use  getting 
.?pvony  over  her/'  Thrasher  replied,  in  a  hasty  tone,  as 
.30ugr.  he  felt  a  little  sore  on  the  subject. 

^'  I  don't  know  about  that,"  /)oland  said,  in  a  dogma^^^ical 


TUb.   EXPLORATION.  5| 

(i,aniier.  *'  If  I  should  go  to  her  all  covered  ov(r  with  dia- 
monds, and  with  gold  in  my  pockets,  I  think  she'd  look  £  i 
me  in  a  friendly  manner." 

"  Yes,  and  before  she  had  time  to  give  you  a  second  ..ookj 
the  traps  would  have  you  ;  for  I  tell  you,  man,  that  a  person 
can't  walk  the  streets  with  a  diamond  ring  on  his  finger,  but 
he's  asked  to  explain  how  he  got  it,  and  where.  Give  up 
ill  thought  of  the  girl,  for  you  can't  get  her  after  what 
passed  to-night." 

"  If  I  sell  my  share  of  the  sparklers,  I'll  try,''  muttered 
Doland,  in  a  surly  tone. 

"  I  have  a  good  mind  to  divide  the  sparklers,  and  let  you 
run  with  your  share.  I  would  if  I  didn't  fear  that  you 
would  get  caught  and  peach." 

Doland  dashed  down   his  pipe    and  sprang  to  his  feet 

•"  Your  words  imply  that  I'm  a  traitor  !  "  he  cried,  in  a  load 

tone  of  voice.     *'  I'll  no  longer  keep  company  with  a  man 

^who  talks  in  that  style.     Let  us  make  a  division  —  you  take 

your  share,  and  I'll  take  mine,  and  we'll  go  in  d'^erent 

directions." 

'^  I  would  if  I  didn't  think  —  " 

"  No  think  about  it,"  cried  Doland.  "  Down  with  the 
jewels,  and  let  us  share  them." 

I  could  hear  Murden  tremble,  he  was  so  agitated.  He 
feared  that  the  rogues  would  patch  up  a  peace,  and  that  the 
jewels  would  not  be  produced.  All  that  we  wanted  to  know 
was,  where  they  were  secreted  ;  and  if  we  could  discover  that 
point  we  were  willing  to  run  some  risk  in  laying  our  hands 
on  them.  In  fact,  so  interested  was  Murden  that  he  whis- 
pered to  Hopeful,  "  Don't  snore  so  confounded  loud.  I 
don't  want  to  lose,  a  word  that  they  utter."  Consequently 
Hez  held  up  a  little,  and  we  listened ;  but  for  some  time  not 
a  word  passed  between  them,  for  Thrasher  sat  motionless, 
staring  at  his  companion  as  though  he  was  debating  what 
should  be  done  with  him  and  his  demand. 

The  two  burglars  sat  so  that  we  could  see  their  faces. 
Murden  whispered,  "  That  Doland  is  in  more  danger  than 
he  ev^r  was  before,  for  Thrasher  is  meditating  whethsr  he 


56  TKE  BUSHRANGERS. 

•'hali  strangle  him  or  strike  him  dead  with  a,  blow  of  hia 
inife." 

If  Doland  noticed  the  expression  of  his  companion's  eyes, 
he  did  not  seem  to  regard  it,  for  he  met  his  gaze  with  a 
dogged  resolution,  like  that  of  a  man  made  obstinate  with 
liquor ;  and  as  he  dashed  his  hand  on  the  table,  he  said, 
"  I'll  take  my  share  of  the  sparklers,  and  do  as  I  please 
with  'em.  I  did  as  much  as  you  to  get  'em,  and  you  can't 
deny  it." 

"  I  don't  want  to ;  but  I  do  want  you  to  keej)  quiet. 
Wait  until  the  traps  give  up  the  search,  and  then  we  can 
turn  the  jewels  into  gold,  and  spend  our  money  like  lords." 

"  I'll  have  my  share  now.  Put  the  box  before  me,  and 
let  us  make  a  division." 

*'  Doland,"  said  Thrasher,  in  a  calm  tone,  "  you  are 
drunk.  Sleep  on  the  matter,  and  to-morrow  morning  we 
will  see  what  can  be  done.  If  you  are  of  the  same  opinion 
then,  \e  v  ill  take  our  shares  and  separate.  Does  that 
satisfy  you  r " 

"  No,  it  does  not,"  roared  Doland,  more  drunk  anu.  obsti- 
nate the  longer  he  was  talked  to.  "  Give  me  my  share, 
and  we  part  company.     We  have  been  pals  long  enough." 

I  saw  Thrasher  look  around  the  room  in  a  hurried  man- 
Der,  as  though  he  was  a  little  terrified  at  his  own  thought? ; 
his  face  lighted  up  with  a  fiendish  expression,  and  his  com- 
pressed lips  and  scowling  brow  revealed  the  workings  of  a 
temper  that  would  not  be  controlled.  He  started  to  his 
feet,  and  I  saw  his  hand  steal  into  the  bosom  of  his  coat ; 
but  when  Doland  looked  up,  the  hand  was  quickly  withdrawn, 
and  Thrasher  asked,  in  a  voice  that  was  ominous,  it  was  so 
calm,  "  Won't  you  wait  till  morning  ? " 

"No,  damn  you  for  a  sneak  thief.  Bring  the  box  or  I 
wiU— ." 

We  watched  every  motion  that  Thrasher  made,  for  we 
feared  that  he  would  strike  a  blow  before  the  hiding-place 
of  the  jewels  was  revealed  to  us.  He  stood  for  a  moment 
near  Doland's  back,  and  I  thought  that  the  latter's  life  was 
not  worth  insuring  ;  but  the  ^ellow  turned,  walkc  d  towards 


THE  QUARREL  AND  THE  MURDER.  57 

fche  -will,  and  stooping  down  in  one  corner, removed  a  board, 
thrust  in  his  nand,  and  drew  out  a  parcel  covered  with  a 
newspaper. 

jDoland  watched  his  operations  with  dogged  sullenness. 
He  seemed  determined  not  to  trust  Thrasher  after  the 
parcel  was  in  his  hand.  The  latter  approached  the  greasv 
table,  and  laid  the  bundle  on  it.  Doland  seized  it  wi<^h  =>pger 
hands,  and  tore  off  the  wrapper.  We  saw  that  it  had  cov- 
ered a  rich  casket,  inlaid  with  gold,  and  I  heard  Murders 
sigh  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  glittering  box ;  and  that  sigh 
satisfied  me  that  we  had  caught  sight  of  the  casket  which 
belonged  to  the  amiable  lady  of  the  lieutenant  governor. 

''  Give  me  the  key,"  said  Doland,  in  a  fierce  (one,  when 
ho  found  that  the  casket  was  locked. 

Thrasher  handed  him  a  golden  key,  without  speaking  a 
word.  Doland  unlocked  the  box,  thrust  in  his  hand,  and 
held  up  to  the  light  a  necklace  which  contained  a  large 
number  of  diamonds.  He  then  removed  from  the  box  a 
bracelet,  and  several  other  articles,  all  of  them  studded  with 
precious  stones ;  for,  dull  as  the  light  was,  I  could  see  them 
glisten  and  sparkle  at  every  touch  of  the  rough  hands  that 
handled  them. 

*' I'll  make  choice  of  the  necklace  for  my  share  of  the 
plunder,"  said  Doland,  after  he  had  examined  the  jewels 
with  drunken  gravity. 

"  No,  you  don't,"  replied  Thrasher ;  "  you  know  that  that 
is  worth  all  the  rest,  and  a  thousand  pounds  added.  Knock 
out  some  of  the  stones,  and  make  the  thing  equal." 

"Not  a  stone  shall  be  touched.  I've  made  my  choice. 
You  take  the  rest.  I  run  more  risk  than  you,  and  the  best 
part  belongs  to  me.  You  can't  deny  it.  Didn't  I  enter  the 
government  house  by  climbing  up  the  spout  ?  Didn't  I  hang 
around  there  for  two  weeks  ? " 

"  And  didn't  I  do  the  planning  ? "  asked  the  other,  with  a 
malignant  sneer. 

"  Yes,  and  left  the  work  for  me  to  perform.  But  I  don't 
want  to  talk  with  you.  I've  got  my  share  of  the  pliuider, 
Mid  you  may  take  yours." 


58  THE  BUSHRAI^GEKS. 

The  fellow  raised  his  voice  so  that  we  cculd  have  heard 
him  even  if  we  had  not  been  listening  ;  and  this  part  seemed 
to  strike  Thrasher,  for  he  laid  a  hand  on  Poland's  shoulder, 
and  said,  "  Not  so  loud ;  the  sailor-men  in  the  other  room 
■sill  hear  jou.     Speak  softly." 

''  I  shall  speak  as  I  please,  unless  you  are  willing  I  should 
rake  this  necklace  for  my  share,"  returned  Doland,  in  a 
dogged  tone.  I  saw  that  Thrasher  hesitated  for  a  moment, 
as  though  uncertain  what  course  to  pursue  ;  but  as  his  eyes 
fell  upon  th3  jewels  he  looked  dangerous. 

"  You  consent  ? "  asked  Doland,  and  then,  -without  waiting 
for  an  answer,  he  thrust  the  necklace  into  his  pocket,  and 
took  up  a-  pipo 

In  an  instant  Thrasher's  hand  was  on  his  neck,  and  with 
no  gentle  grasp.  "  You  mean  scoundrel,"  he  cried,  "  give 
up  that  jewel,  or  I  will  strangle  you !  " 

Doland  made  an  attempt  to  start  from  his  seat,  but 
Thrasher  held  him  as  though  he  was  in  a  vice  ;  and  a  noise- 
less struggle  commenced,  for  each  party  was  fearfifl  of 
attracting  attention.  We  watched  them  with  eager  in- 
terest, and  Hez  left  off  snoring,  and  claimed  a  fair  share 
of  the  peep-hole,  so  that  he  could  see  what  was  going  on. 
I  was  not  surprised  to  see  Doland's  right  hand,  which  had 
beer  tugging  at  his  opponent's  arms  to  tear  them  from  their 
hold,  suddenly  thrust  into  his  bosom. 

"  Ah  !  you  would  stick  me,  would  you  ?  " .  cried  Thrasher, 
on  whom  the  motion  was  not  lost.  "You  would  kill  your 
dIq  pal,  would  you  ? "  These  questions  were  asked  in 
hoarse  whispers ;  and  they  were  not  replied  to  for  the  very 
good  reason  that  the  gentleman  to  whom  they  were  ad- 
dressed was  not  in  a  condition  to  answer  pointed  interroga- 
tions, his  breath  being  hard  to  catch,  and  he  had  none  to 
spare. 

But  the  right  hand  which  Doland  had  raised  was  still 
searching  in  his  breast  pocket,  and  at  last  a  long  and 
vicious-looking  knife  was  drawn.  Thrasher  saw  the  danger, 
and  prepared  for  it.  With  a  vigorous  shove  he  sent  Doland 
bait  wards  to  the  floor,  whipped  out  a  knife,  and  made  ast-ajf 


THE  QUAKKEL  AND  THE  MURDER.  59 

forward  ;  ed^  as  he  did  so  he  encountered  Poland,  who  was 
vowing  vengeance  on  his  former  friend. 

"I'll  kill  you!"  Doland  cried,  and  I  think  he  meant  it: 
but  before  he  had  time  to  carry  out  his  excellent  intention, 
Thrasher  had  struck  home,  and  the  knife  performed  its 
allotted  work.  It  entered  the  person  of  Doland  just  under 
the  right  arm,  and  was  withdrawn  in  a  second ;  and  although 
the  injured  man  made  an  attempt  to  stand  and  deal  a  blow 
in  return,  the  effort  was  not  successful. 

"Curse  you  for  a  false  pal,"  he  gasped;  "you  have 
killed  me." 

"  And  saved  my  own  life,"  was  the  cool  rejoinder,  as  the 
fellow  wiped  the  blade  of  his  knife. 

I  could  hardly  remain  quiet  while  all  this  was  going  on. 

"  Keep  quiet,"  whispered  the  cool  ex-police  commissioner. 
"  We  want  the  jewels  more  than  we  want  the  man.  Wait 
and  see  what  he  does  with  them."  We  did  wait,  although 
the  murder  so  affected  the  nerves  of  Hez  that  he  could  no 
longer  snore,  or  even^ake  the  attempt. 

"  He  died  d — d  quick,  it  seems  to  me,"  I  could  hear 
Thrasher  mutter,  as  though  he  was  wondering  why  such  was 
the  case. 

He  laid  his  hand  on  Doland's  breast,  and  felt  of  his  flesh, 
and  then  appeared  to  be  satisfied  that  the  man  was  really 
dead.  As  he  arose  to  his  feet,  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  jewels, 
which  still  remained  in  the  casket  on  the  table.  A  smile  of 
triumph  passed  over  the  man's  face  as  he  took  up  the  brace- 
let and  examined  it. 

"  The  fool  lost  not  only  his  share  of  the  jewels,  but  his 
life,  by  his  obstinacy ;  "  and  as  Thrasher  spoke,  a  huge  rat, 
gray  and  venerable,  left  its  hole  and  walked  to  the  middle 
of  the  room,  stopped  for  a  moment  to  utter  a  most  doleful 
squeak,  and  then  waddled  off  to  a  hole  in  another  part  of 
the  room.  Thrasher  turned  as  quick  as  if  some  one  had 
called  Mm  by  name.  The  perspiration  stood  in  large  drops 
upon  his  brow,  and  he  shuddered  like  one  afflicted  with  the 
ague.  But  he  soon  g-aw  what  had  occasioned  the  alar  »,  and 
he  uttered  a  sigh  of  relief  as  he  wiped  the  sweat  from  his 


00  THE  BUSHRANGEEb. 

Drow.  "D — n  the  rats,"  he  muttered;  "I  thoi.ght  some 
one  was  calling  me  by  name.  I  must  have  some  liquor  or  1 
shall  be  like  an  old  woman  before  morning." 

He  turned  and  looked  at  the  body,  and  then  a^  peared  to 
recollect  that  the  diamond  necklace  was  still  in  the  dead 
man's  pocket.  He  stooped  down,  removed  the  jewel,  and 
put  it  with  the  others,  and  then  closed  the  casket.  He  then 
meditated  for  a  moment,  and  at  last  raised  the  casket  and 
attempted  to  put  it  in  his  'breast ;  but  the  box  was  too  large, 
and  after  several  attempts  he  walked  towards  the  spot  where 
the  casket  had  been  concealed,  raised  the  board,  dropped  it 
out  of  sight,  and  then  covered  the  place  with  the  blankets  — 
an  act  that  met  the  approval  of  Murden,  for  he  gave  my  arm 
an  expressive  pinch,  and  ventui*ed  on  a  low  chuckle  of  de- 
light. Thrasher,  as  though  anxious  to  leave  the  place,  hur- 
ried to  the  table,  blew  out  the  light,  and  then  groped  his 
way  to  the  door,  locked  it  after  him,  and  stole  down  stairs. 
We  waited  until  we  heard  the  outside  door  close,  and  then 
lighted  our  candle  in  the  entry,  so  thg^t  the  reflection  should 
not  show  through  the  front  windows,  while  Murden  once 
more  picked  the  lock  of  the  back  room  door;  and  then 
entering  in  a  noiseless  but  hurried  manner,  we  reached  the 
body  of  Doland  before  we  saw  that  he  was  sitting  up  and 
looking  at  us  with  some  astonishment  depicted  upon  his  face, 
which  was  white  and  bloody. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

rHE     LOST     DIAMONDS     EECOVEKED.  THE     ESCAPE.  THE 

STJDDEN     ALAKM.  THE     UNPLEASANT     POSITION.  HEZ 

PLAYS    THE    "INJUN." THE    PET    AND    HIS    STRONG    ARM. 

As  I  have  said  before,  Mrs.  Trotter's  castle  did  not  enjoy 
a  favorable  reputation  in  the  most  criminal  district  of  Mel- 
bourne, for  more  than  one  murder  had  been  committed  ianef 
Qouse  —  and  it  was  supposed  that  those  who  had   quietlv 


THE   LOST  DIAMONDS  RECOVERED.  61 

yielded  up  the  gliost,  after  repeated  blows  from  bludgeons, 
hatchets,  and  knives,  were  disposed  to  assume  a  ghostly 
shape,  and  walk  through  the  house  in  the  night  time ;  so 
when  we  saw  Doland,  whom  we  supposed  dead,  sitting  up 
and  staring  at  us  as  though  he  took  us  for  supernatural  vis- 
itors, we  could  not  help  starting  back  and  retreating  to  the 
door ;  but  before  we  gained  the  entry,  reason  relumed,  and 
I  had  just  time  to  catch  Hez  by  the  arm,  and  prevent  him 
from  diving  down  stairs,  head  first. 

''  Let  me  alone,"  he  said.  "  That  dead  man  has  ccr^e  '■ 
life,  and  I  don't  want  to  see  him." 

"  Hush  ! "  cried  Murden,  in  a  stern  tone.  "  We  jiust 
make  no  noise,  or  we  are  lost.  Come  into  the  room.  The 
man  is  not  dead,  and  will  not  harm  you."  Thus  assiu-ed, 
Hez  became  pacified.  We  found  Doland  still  sitting  up, 
and  watching  our  motions  with  much  interest. 

"  What  do  you  want  here  ? "  he  asked,  as  scol  as  he  was 
assured  that  we  were  earthly  visitors. 

'*  We  came  here  to  save  your  life,"  Murden  answered. 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  ain'fc  in  any  danger,"  replied  the  man. 

"  And  yet  you  are  wounded,  and  pretended  to  be  dead," 
Murden  said. 

"  And  if  I  hadn't  pretended,  J  should  have  been  dead  in 
reality,"  was  the  curt  answer. 

"  ExpMn  yourself,  and  be  quick  about  it,  for  tv^  lon't 
want  to  lose  time,"  I  said. 

"  Don't  let  me  keep  you  up,"  the  fellow  said,  with  a  grin. 
"  I  can  take  care  of  myself  without  your  assistance." 

We  saw  his  motives,  and  exchanged  smiles.  The  fellow 
wanted  to  get  rid  of  us,  so  that  he  could  seize  on  the  casket 
and  escape  before  his  pal  returned. 

"  Answer  me  this  question,"  Murden  said,  speaking  to  tlie 
burglar,  who  still  sat  on  the  floor ;  "  why  did  you  pretend  to 
die  so  easily  ?  " 

"Unless  I  had  pretended  I  should  now  be  in  another 
sphere,"  returned  the  fellow,  with  a  short  laugh.  "My  pal 
struck  at  me  before  I  was  anticipating  an  atti^ck.  I  saw  that 
^le  had  the  advantage ;  so  I  let  him  shove  his  knife  into  me, 


62  THE  BUSHKAI\aEK{>. 

and  draw  blood..  And  now  that  1  have  answered  all  youi 
questions,  you  will  please  to  leave  my  room."  The  coolness 
of  the  man  was  something  amusing,  and  we  could  not  but 
admire  it  under  the  circumstances. 

"  We  came  here,"  said  Murden,  in  a  decided  tone,  and  in 
a  quiet  manner,  "  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  some  dia- 
monds which  were  stolen  a  few  weeks  since  from  the  goT em- 
inent house.     Do  you  know  anything  about  them  ?  " 

Doland  looked  at  us  for  a  moment,  as  though  he  was 
judging  how  much  knowledge  we  possessed  ;  and  then  he 
Baid,  "  No,  I  don't.     This  is  no  place  for  diamonds." 

'*  You  are  a  liar,  Mr.  Pat  Doland,  alias  Charles  Brisley," 
^ned  Murden.  "  You  see  that  I  know  you,  and  I  know  your 
I'.story," 

The  fellow  looked  surprised  and  somewhat  alarmed  as  he 
asked,  "  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  know  of  my  history  ? " 
"  No  matter  who  I  am,  but  in  a  few  words  I'll  tell  your 
history.     You  received  a  good  education  at  the  hands  of  an 
indulgent  father ;  but  you  liked  dissipation  and  bad  company, 
and  from  petty  crimes  you  took  to  burglary,  was   caught, 
sentenced,  and  since  that  sentence  expired  you  have  done 
Bome  ©dd  jobs,  the  biggest  of  which  consisted  in  stealing  a 
lady's  diamonds.     Now  what  do  you  say  for  yourself?  " 
"  Nothing,"  answered  the  man,  in  a  sullen  tone. 
"You  see  that  I  know  you  better  than  you  kbow  me," 
Murden  continued. 

The  fellow  looked  up  as  my  friend  said  this,  and  answered, 
"  I  kn:w  you  now.     This  is  Mr.  Murden." 

*'  You  have  guessed  right.     That  is  my  name." 
"  And  \  thought  that  you  had  cut  the  police  business,  or 
1  should  not  be  here  at  the  present  time,"  Doland  said. 

"  But  you  see  that  I  have  not.  Now  let  us  understand 
eacli  other.  You  can  give  me  some  information  respecting 
the  jewels,  and  perhaps  I  can  speak  a  good  word  for  you 
before  the  beaks.     What  do  you  say  ? " 

Doland  shook  his  head  as  he  answered,  *'  Thrasher  carried 
off  the  box  containing  the  di-.monds,  and  I  never  expect  to 
eee  him  or  them  again." 


THE  LOST  DIAMONDS   RECOVERED.  65 

"  Lying  won't  serve  your  purpose,  Doiand.  1  tJiougbt 
that  jou  knew  me  better  than  to  suppose  that  a  lie  woujd  go 
down  with  me." 

♦*  So  help  me  God,  Mr.  Murden,  I  speak  the  truth."  Mj 
friend  did  not  answer  the  fellow,  but  turned  and  spoke 
to  me. 

"  Keep  your  eye  on  the  man,  and  shoot  him  if  he  moves 
ftn  inch,"  he  said,  and  then  walked  to  the  corner  wherci  the 
cjasket  was  concealed. 

Doiand  did  not  stir,  but  he  watched  Murden's  movements 
like  a  cat  in  search  of  a  rat.  Murden  kicked  aside  the 
blankets,  raised  the  board,  and  drew  out  the  casket.  This 
was  too  much  for  Doiand.  He  uttered  a  groan,  and  fell  back 
full  length  upon  the  floor,  as  though  all  hope  had  deserted 
him. 

"You  see,"  cried  Murden,  "that  I  have  secured  your 
prize.     Have,  you  anything  to  say  ? " 

"  No,  curses  on  your  luck  !  "  retorted  the  baffled  burglar. 
"  We  were  told  in  Sydney  to  look  out  for  you,  but  supposed 
that  we  were  safe." 

"  And  so  you  are,  in  my  custody.  Come ;  I  want  you  to 
go  with  me,  and  if  you  utter  a  shout,  or  seek  to  attract  at- 
tention, I'll  make  short  work  of  you.  Do  not  hoj^  e  for  a 
rescue  as  we  pass  through  Mud  Lane.  "We  are  armed  with 
revolvers,  and  you  will  be  the  first  man  shot." 

Doiand  arose  from  the  floor  in  a  sulky  manner,  and  held 
out  his  hands.  "  I  suppose  you  want  to  put  the  bracciets  on 
me,  captain." 

"  I  don't  dare  trust  y^u  without  them."  The  handcuffs 
dosed  on  the  man's  wrists.  The  prisoner  did  not  utter  a 
word  of  remonstrance  against  the  treatment  he  received. 
He  appeared  to  be  thinking  of  other  matters,  and  I  supposed 
he  was  weighing  all  the  chances  of  a  trial,  and  wondering 
how  many  years'  imprisonment  he  would  receive  ;  out  1 
fouiid  that  I  was  mistaken,  for  just  as  we  were  abi^ut  to 
move  towards  the  door,  and  make  our  escape  from  the  house, 
Doiand  suddenly  turned,  uttered  a  shrill  cry,  ran  across  tho 
room,  and  plunged  he'adlong  through  one  of  the  windows, 


^54  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

taking  glass  and  sasli  with  him.  We  h3ard  the  fellow  strike 
the  ground  in  the  yard,  back  of  the  house ;  but  not  a  groan 
or  a  cry  led  us  to  imagine  that  he  was  injured,  and  though 
we  rushed  to  the  window  and  looked  out,  yet  the  night  was 
so  dark  that  we  could  see  nothing,  although  Hez  thought 
that  he  could  hear  footsteps  retreating  in  a  hasty  manner. 

We  listened  for  a  moment  or  two  at  the  open  window,  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  trace  of  Doland,  for  we  did  not 
like  to  think  that  he  had  outwitted  us  in  spite  of  our  precau- 
tions ;  but  as  all  was  quiet,  we  began  to  think  that  we  were 
losing  time,  and  we  were  reminded  of  this  quite  strongly 
when  we  heard  Mother  Trotter  at  the  front  door,  blaspheming 
in  a  masculine  sort  of  way  at  the  destruction  of  a  window. 
We  did  not  care  to  encounter  that  Amazon ;  so  we  extin- 
guished the  light,  and  threw  up  the  second  window,  and 
looked  out.  The  distance  to  the  ground  was  not  more  than 
six  feet,  less  than  we  had  calculated,  and  with  a  whispered 
injunction  to  follow,  Murden  dropped  from  the  window. 

"You  next,"  I  said  to  Hez;  and  he  disappeared  like  a 
shadow. 

I  stepped  to  the  window,  and  dropped  to  the  ground  ;  and 
the  next  instant  I  found  myself  in  the  strong  grasp  of  two 
men,  one  of  whom  put  a  hand  upon  my  throat,  and  the  other 
pressed  a  pistol  against  my  forehead.  I  was  surprised,  but 
not  dismayed,  for  I  had  been  in  worse  positions  than  the 
one  in  which  I  found  myself ;  and  if  I  remained  quiet  while 
the  ruffian  compressed  my  windpipe,  it  was  simply  for  the 
purpose  of  improving  the  best  opportunity  that  I  could  find 
of  making  my  escape.  Finding  that  I  did  not  struggle,  the 
men  who  held  me  eased  up  on  their  grasp ;  and  one  whis- 
pered, "  Give  me  the  box,  and  we'll  let  you  go." 
.    "What  box?"  I  asked. 

"Whist!  and  be to  ye,"  was  the  answer.     "  Don*t 

^ou  make  strange  of  it.  Hand  over  the  jewels,  and  we'll  let 
^;ou  run.  Be  quick,  now,  for  the  boys  is  comin',  and  then 
we  can't  save  ye.     Do  ye  hear  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  1 1  ave  them  not.  My  friends  have  got  them, 
and  have  run  for  it." 


THE  UNPLEASANT  POSITIOJ^.  65 

**  Ah  !  now  is  that  true  ? "  demanded  one  of  the  rtffiaas : 
»nd  he  shook  me  in  a  fierce  manner,  as  though  to  stir  up  the 
truth  if  I  did  not  utter  it. 

*'  It  is,"  I  answered  ;  and  just  at  that  moment  a  light  was 
thrust  from  the  window  over  our  heads,  and  half  a  dozen 
wild  faces,  fierce  and  brutal,  looked  out  upon  us. 

•'  We  have  one  of  'em,"  cried  my  captors,  in  triumphant 
tones ;  and  they  shook  me  without  opposition  on  my  part 
for  I  did  not  think  it  best  to  show  signs  of  strength.  The 
ruffians  at  the  window  uttered  a  yell  of  triumph. 

"  The  others  is  in  the  house,"  cried  my  captors.  "  This  is 
the  only  one  what  has  attempted  to  cut  since  we  was  here." 

"  Hold  him  till  we  comes  out  with  the  crowd,"  roared  one 
dark-eyed  fellow,  with  a  face  so  thin  and  sharp  that  the 
light  could  not  strike  on  it.  "  We'll  break  their  bones  and 
mince  their  flesh." 

"  Ah  !  we'll  teach  'em  to  rob  honest  fellers  like  us,'' 
another  one  said,  and  then  rushed  to  other  parts  of  the 
house  in  search  of  Murden  and  Hez ;  old  Mother  Trotter 
urging  them  on  in  fierce  tones,  and  vowing  vengeance 
against  us  for  deceiving  her  as  to  our  character. 

As  soon  as  the  light  and  crowd  disappeared,  the  men  who 
held  me  whispered,  "  Give  us  the  jewels,  or  tell  us  where 
they  is,  and  we'll  let  you  cut,  and  divil  a  word  shall  the 
others  know  of  it." 

"  I  have  th^m  not,  I  tell  you.  Now  relieve  my  neck,  and 
let  me  get  a  Breath  of  air." 

"  Divil  a  bit,"  was  the  answer.  "  You  should  be  kicked 
to  death  by  all  the  honest  men  in  Mud  Lane.  Ye  has 
cheated  us,  and  ye  know  it ;  don't  ye  ? " 

I  was  about  to  reply  ;  tut  casting  my  eyes  on  the  ground, 
I  saw  something  move  towards  me,  in  a  slow  and  cautious 
manner^  and  without  the  least  noise.  My  amiable  friends, 
who  had  me  by  the  neck,  did  not  sec  the  object  that  attract- 
ed my  attention ;  for  they  were  facing  me,  and  jamming 
me  against  the  wall  just  as  though  I  had  no  feeling  in  the 
vicinity  of  my  throat,  and  did  not  need  breath  to  support  mi 
existence.     At  first  I  thought  it    was   on^   of  those    husfi 


66  THL'  BUSHRANGERS. 

black  sna,ke3  wliich  I  had  met  with  in  the  vicinity  of  Bal* 
larat  and  the  Lodden ;  but  I  was  not  long  under  such  an 
impression,  for  just  as  the  ruffians  who  held  me  were  dis- 
posed to  kick  my  shins  and  punch  me  in  the  ribs,  the  creep- 
ing object  suddenly  arose,  and  with  a  blow  that  would  have 
done  honor  to  the  Manchester  Pet,  struck  one  of  the  rough 
gentlemen  on  the  side  of  his  head,  and  over  he  tumbled ; 
and  at  the  same  moment,  a  form  glided  towards  me  on  the 
left,  and  served  the  remaining  inhabitant  of  Mud  Lane  in 
the  same  manner. 

"  Gol  darn  their  pictures  ! "  cried  Hez,  who  had  crawled 
on  his  stomach  until  he  had  struck  a  blow  for  my  relief; 
"  didn't  I  Injun  'em  that  time  ? " 

"You'll  make  a  bush-hunter  in  time,"  said  Murden,  in  a 
tone  that  savored  of  admiration.  *'  I  never  saw  a  thing 
done  handsomer." 

"  Why  did  you  leave  me  ? "  I  asked. 

*'  We  heard  a  crowd  of  the  Mud-Laners  at  the  front  of 
the  house  ;  so  we  started  to  see  what  they  were  after.  Doland 
and  Thrasher  have  joined  forces,  and  raised  the  neighbor- 
hood. When  we  returned  we  found  that  the  cusses  had 
posted  '■.wo  men  under  the  window.  But  come  ;  we  have  no 
time  for  more  explanations.  The  whole  of  the  crowd  will  be 
after  us  in  a  few  minutes." 

As  he  spoke,  we  could  hear  the  Mud-Laners  in  Mother 
Trotter's  palace  utter  howls  of  rage  because  WQ  had  escaped 
from  the  place  ;  and  while  we  were  talking,  one  of  the  win- 
dows over  our  heads  was  dashed  out  without  ceremony, 
scattering  th.e  glass  in  all  direction":? ;  and  then  Thrasher's 
head  was  thrust  out,  and  he  shouted,  "  Hold  on  to  that  man 
till  we  come  down.  We'll  learn  him  to  rob  an  honest  man 
of  his  earnings."  The  head,  and  light  that  revealed  it  to 
our  gaze,  disappeared  from  view. 

"We  must  leave,  and  in  a  hurry,"  said  Murden.  "We 
have  no  time  to  lose  if  we  would  avoid  the  beauties  of  Mud 
Lane  " 

Hitting  the  prostrate  men  a  kick  as  we  passed  them,  to 
«ee  if  the}  were  conscious,  and  finding  that  they  were  not, 


AJV    ESCAPE   FROM   THE   PET.  6^ 

we  ran  for  a  nLrrow  alley  that  would  take  us  to  the  head  of 
Maa  Lane  ;  but  we  had  not  advanced  four  rods,  before  we 
saw  a  dozen  of  the  neighboring  roughs  rushing  towards  us ; 
??ut  as  they  had  not  seen  us,  it  was  eas}^  t'"  avoid  them. 
We  retreated  hastily,  ran  across  an  open  space  in  the  rear  of 
some  hovels  which  sheltered  the  worst  people  in  Melbourne, 
and,  late  as  it  was,  lights  were  still  seen  in  the  windows. 
as  tliough  the  people  sat  up  all  night.  These  lights  guided 
us  on  our  way,  Murden  leading.  He  climbed  over  a  fence, 
and  we  followed  close  at  his  heels.  We  stumbled  through 
a  ditch,  were  chased  by  dogs,  and  at  last  entered  a  narrow 
passage-way,  rushed  through  it,  and  at  the  end  found  our- 
selves in  the  strong  arms  of  the  Manchester  Pet,  who  salu+ed 
us  with,  — 

"  Now,  you  coves,  I've  got  you.  If  you  moves,  I'll  crack 
yo-ir  bones  like  sticks  ;  "  and  the  strength  of  his  arms  showed 
thit  he  was  in  earnest. 


CHAPTER    Vm. 

JLh   ESCAPE    FKOM    THE    PET. THE    PURSUIT.  THE    JOLLT 

SAILORS.  THE    ARREST    AND    DISCHARGE. 

Of  course  we  struggled  after  we  found  the  Pet  had  thrown 
his  arms  around  us ;  but  the  muscular  man  held  on  tc  uj?, 
and  seemed  determined  to  crush  us  in  his  embrace.  He 
had  stationed  himself  at  the  entrance  of  the  alley  up  which 
we  had  rushed,  and  caught  us  in  a  trap  ;  and  now  that : « 
had  us,  as  he  thought,  secure,  he  did  not  call  for  help,  or 
appear  desirous  of  letting  the  rest  of  the  Mud-Laners  know 
that  he  had  secured  a  prize.  It  was  so  dark  that  he  could 
not  see  our  faces  ;  so  he  did  not  recognize  us  as  the  persons 
who  had  drank  beer  on  his  premises  in  the  early  part  of  the 
evening ;  but  we  easily  detected  him  every  time  he  jammed 
us  against  the  wooden  building,  by  his  Doing  without  a  Jacket, 
and  on  account  of  his  size. 


g8  THE  BUSHKaNGERS. 

'*  Give  me  the  jewels,  and  you  coves  can  run  home  l^!  ftV?3t 
as  you  please.  Don't  say  that  you  haven't  get  'em,  'cos  I 
knows  better.     Fork  'em  over,  and  we'll  quit  company." 

"We  don't  know  anything  about  your  jewels,"  Murden 
replied.     "  Let  us  alone,  or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you." 

"  What !  Rats  that  you  are,  do  you  threaten  me  ? "  roared 
the  giant;  and  once  more  he  commenced  the  business  of 
cracking  our  ribs ;  but  Hez,  who  had  a  strong  prejudice 
against  such  treatment,  slipped  from  the  anaconda  embrace 
like  an  eel ;  and  although  we  had  to  receive  a  double  dose 
of  pressure  on  account  of  Hez's  movement,  yet  we  were  not 
feolfish  enough  to  repine,  and  accuse  him  of  a  want  of  ^ood 
I'aith. 

"  Ah,  warmints ! "  cried  the  Pet,  with  a  squeeze  that 
i},<^.arly  took  away  our  breath,  "  will  you  give  me  the  jewels, 
and  say  nothin'  about  'em  r  Must  I  call  the  Mud-Laners 
here,  and  let  'em  jump  at  you?  Don't  you  provoke  me  too 
much,  'cos  I  can't  stand  it.  If  you  want  me  for  a  friend, 
hand  over  the  shiners  ?  " 

At  this  moment  the  giant's  attention  was  attracted  by 
something  at  his  feet.  He  released  us  to  look  down,  and 
that  movement  was  fortunate  for  us  ;  for  we  broke  from  his 
grasp <  made  a  rush  for  the  entrance  of  the  alley,  being 
stimulated  V  the  shouts  of  the  enthusiastic  Mud-Laners, 
who,  having  started  out  for  the  purpose  of  shooting  some 
one,  or  committing  an  r. 'mirage  of  some  kind,  were  just  now 
debating  the  propriety  of  hanging  a  peaceable  man  because 
he  would  not  supply  the  crowd  with  gin,  without  price  and 
without  questions.  We  should  have  succeeded  in  effecting 
our  escape  if  we  had  not  fallen  over  Hez,  whom  we  did  not 
notice  in  our  eagerness.  As  soon  as  we  touched  the  ground, 
the  giant  rushed  for  us,  uttering  several  oaths  at  our  attempts 
to  evade  his  embraces ;  but  he  had  taken  only  one  or  two 
St  .ps  when  he  fell  with  a  crash  that  shook  the  building  m 
the  vicinity,  and  the  instant  he  touched  the  ground,  Hez 
boundsd  over  the  prostrate  form,  and  shouted, — 

"  Come  on ;  the  Pet  can't  come  to  time,  if  I  know  it." 

We  scrambled  to   our  feet,  and  followed   or.   the   Pet 


THE   PURSUIT.  6^ 

tittering  sucn  oaths  and  yells  that  he  attracted  the  notice  of 
vhe  Mud-Laners,  and  they  came  rushing  dowi;  the  dark 
street,  howling  and  swearing,  to  see  what  the  matter  was. 

We  ran  as  fast  as  we  could,  Hez  l&ading  tLe  way,  although 
t.i-^  had  not  the  slightest  idea  where  he  was  going.  The 
Mud-Laners  caught  sight  of  us  as  we  passed  the  door  of  a 
dance  hall  through  which  the  light  was  streaming  out,  and 
ihey  uttered  shouts  of  warning  for  the  purpose  of  rousing 
the  denizens  of  the  place,  and  getting  them  to  head  us  off, 
and  turn  us  back  upon  the  main  body.  In  fact  their  object 
would  have  been  successful,  had  not  a  curious  incident 
saved  us. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  district  through  which  we  passed 
were  mustering  to  their  doors  and  windows,  attracted  by  the 
noise  and  the  hope  of  plundering  some  one :  and  the  Mud- 
Laners  were  close  upon  our  heels,  when  we  suddenly  turned 
a  corner,  and  entered  a  street  which  was  very  well  lighted, 
and  apparently  filled  with  dance  halls  and  dvi'  king  saloons. 
Just  at  this  instant,  we  saw  standing  on  the  sidc'^alk  a 
dozen  or  twenty  sailors,  most  of  them  with  licjUDr  -siiougt,  on 
board  to  render  them  willing  to  espouse  any  c^-use.  They 
were  discussing  the  propriety  of  taking  a  drijk  when  we 
hove  in  sight ;  but  all  such  talk  was  abolished  the  instant 
that  the  tars  saw  that  three  men,  dressed  as  sailors,  were 
scudding  before  a  lot  of  landsmen. 

"  Here's  ^  row,"  cried  one  of  the  tars  ;  "  let's  '■akc  a  hand 
in  it." 

The  sailors  uttered  a  cheer,  and  rushed  into  the  middle 
of  the  street,  and  thus  we  found  ourselves  between  iwo  fijres ; 
for  we  could  not  retreat,  and  to  advance  was  dan.^^orous. 

"  Leave  all  to  me,"  I  whispered  to  Murden  and  Haz,  as 
we  slackened  our  pace,  and  approached  the  sailors ;  for  I 
had  marked  out  the  course  which  it  was  most  dosirable  we 
ghould  pursue. 

*'  All  light;  go  ahead,"  w:^-s  the  response. 

"  Ship  ahoy !  "  I  hailed,  when  within  a  few  fathoff  s  of  the 
tara,  who  were  expecting  a  charg'.  and  had  prepared  for  it.. 

"Ay,  ay  ;  what  cheer  ? "  was  the  answer. 


70  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Brother  sailors,  with  a  signal  of  distress,"  I  cried. 

*'  Run  under  our  lee,  and  we'll  look  into  it ;  "  and  the  men 
advanced  to  meet  us. 

We  got  in  the  rear  of  the  sailors,  and  then  thej  asked 
only  a  few  questions  ;  for  the  Mud-Laners  were  too  near  to 
permit  much  t^lk. 

**  What  cheer,  my  hearties  ? "  they  said,  as  they  crowded 
around  us,  and  took  a  keen  survey  of  our  appearance  ;  and 
although  we  were  covered  with  mud  and  dirt,  enough  of  our 
clothing  was  visible  to  show  that  we  were  sailors,  or  wore 
the  garb  of  seafaring  men. 

"  The  sharks  in  our  rear,"  I  gasped ;  for  I  was  tired  after 
the  hard  run  that  the  Mud-Laners  had  given  us.  "  Want  to 
sell  us,  and  be to  'em." 

"  Are  you  runaways  ? "  asked  an  old  salt. 

"  Yes ;  we  cut  for  it  'cos  we  had  hard  usage,  and  nothin* 
to  eat  but  rice  and  wormy  bread." 

*'  Clubs  and  stones,  lads,"  shouted  an  old  salt,  who  seemed 
to  be  the  leader  of  the  men. 

The  sailors  answered  with  a  cheer,  picked  up  all  tho 
stones,  bottles,  and  tumblers  that  they  could  lay  hands  on, 
and  then  awaited  the  onset.  The  Mud-Laners  noted  the 
preparations,  and  paused  some  eight  or  ten  fathoms  from  us. 

'  We  want  those  cussed  thieving  coves,"  cried  Thrasher. 
"  They  has  stolen  something  from  us,  and  run  for  it.  Grive 
them  up,  and  we'll  stand  the  liquor ;  refuse,  and  we'll  come 
to  blows." 

*'  And  does  you  think  that  we  cares  for  your  blows  ? "  cried 
an  old  salt.  "  You  just  come  to  us,  and  we'll  make  you 
sing  wuss  than  a  feller  what  has  to  take  four  dozen  afore 
breakfast.  Now  go  home,  and  stay  there,  'cos  these  men  is 
shipmates,  and  we  stands  by  'em." 

*'  But  they  has  stolen  something  from  us,"  cried  Doland. 

"Never  you  mind  that,"  the  old  salt  said,  with  a  giave 
shake  of  his  head.  "  If  thoy  has  stole,  you  must  prove  it, 
iind  if  Tou  don't  prove  it,  why,  what  is  the  consequence  ?  " 

"  Ay,  ay ;  what  is  th.-y  ? "  repeated  the  sailors,  in  an 
admiring  tone.     "  Tom  can  beat  the  bigwigs  at  hargnment." 


THE  JOLLY  SAILOKS.  7\ 

"  It's  COS  I  steers  a.  straight  course,  and  avoids  the  i.>hoiIi 
and  quicksands  of  nonsense,"  was  old  Tom's  contented  r<> 
mark ;  and  although  such  sound  sense  and  chunks  of  wisdon 
contented  the  jolly  tars,  it  did  not  prove  satisfactory  to  tho 
Mud-Laners,  and  one  of  them,  more  impatient  and  impudent 
than  the  others,  hurled  a  stone,  near  a  pound  weight,  at  the 
venerable  head  of  the  man  who  had  propounded  such  logical 
questions  for  the  admiration  of  his  shipmates.  The  stona 
touched  the  old  salt's  tarpaulin,  knocked  it  half  off  his  head, 
and  then  glanced  and  went  through  the  window  of  c.  porter- 
bouse. 

"  Steady,"  cried  the  sailor,  who  was  an  old  mjn-of-w?.r'3- 
man,  and  had  learned  to  take  things  coolly.  *'  We  Laa 
drawed  their  fire,  and  now  we'll  pipe  all  hands  to  quarters 
and  return  it.  Hingland  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty„ 
Nail  our  colors  to  the  mast,  and  go  in  and  lick  the  d — d 
landsmen  clean  out  of  their  breeches." 

This  inspiring  speech  was  received  with  cheers  by  tho 
sailors.  The  Mud-Laners  heard  the  cries,  and  knew  that 
they  had  much  work  before  them.  It  was  not  the  first  time 
that  the  Mud-Laners  and  a  party  of  sailors  had  met  in  hos- 
tile array ;  but  the  cause  of  the  fight  was  not,  as  a  general 
thing,  of  a  serious  nature  ;  a  look,  a  word,  a  glass  of  liquor, 
was  enough  to  set  them  at  work.  But  this  time  the  charac- 
ter of  sailors  had  been  assailed  by  imputation,  and  r.hat 
was  sufficient  to  cause  the  tars  to  fight  most  valiantly  for 
their  good  name,  while  some  of  the  Mud-Laners,  who  were 
ever  ready  to  plunder,  and  cared  but  little  for  glory,  backed 
out  when  they  saw  that  hard  knocks  were  to  be  exchanged, 
and  nothing  gained  by  it,  except  the  opportunity  of  picking 
some  person's  pocket,  while  lying  in  the  street  insensible, 
under  the  influence  of  a  broken  head.  Even  the  Pet,  who 
had  vowed  vengeance,  suddenly  recollected  that  his  amiable 
daughter  was  all  alone  in  his  porter-house,  and  needed  a 
father's  protection.  He  slipped  away  to  the  rear,  out  across 
some  dark  alley,  and  got  out  of  the  affair  Tith  honor,  as  ha 
thought. 

All  these  things  the  sailors  saw,  and  their  spirits  r'^»se  iq 
6 


72  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

proportion.  As  they  noticed  the  thinned  ranks  of  their  foes 
fchey  cheered  most  lustily,  and  with  the  cheer  poured  in  such 
a  compact  fire  of  stones,  mud,  and  sticks,  that  the  Mud- 
Laners  wavered,  fell  back,  ^nd  then,  when  they  saw  the 
sailors  advance  with  triumphant  yells,  broke  and  run  for  thn 
dark  alleys.  The  tars  uttered  such  howls  of  triumph  that 
even  the  police  were  attracted  by  the  sound,  and  came  down 
the  street  in  force  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  sailors  caught  sight 
cf  their  enemies,  the  "traps,"  they  delivered  a  parting  vol- 
ley at  the  Mud-Laners,  cursed  them  for  cowardly  dogs,  and 
then  turned  and  fled  to  the  nearest  saloons. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  we  were  quiet  all  this  time. 
Far  from  it.  We  would  not  desert  our  brave  allies,  and 
when  they  charged  we  went  with  them,  and  when  they  hurled 
stones  we  did  the  same,  and  when  they  scattered  to  the  right 
and  left,  we  quietly  walked  off,  but  had  gone  but  a  few  paces 
when  the  police,  thinking  that  the  time  had  arrived  for  them 
to  distinguish  themselves,  and  seeing  that  we  were  disposed 
to  be  peaceable,  suddenly  made  a  rush,  and  we  found  our- 
selves surrounded,  to  the  great  terror  of  Hez,  who  looked 
upon  a  police  officer  as  a  being  of  superhuman  power  and 
importance. 

"  We  caught  you  at  it,"  cried  the  sergeant,  who  had 
oharge  of  the  party.  "  Don't  you  go  for  to  deny  it.  We 
seed  you  throw  stones  at  those  highly  respectable  citizens 
what  run  when  we  hove  in  sight."' 

'*  And  who,  in  the  devil's  name,  wouldn't  run  after  catching 
a  sight  of  your  face  ? "  returned  Murden. 

The  sergeant  of  the  force,  who  had  never  been  outside  of 
fehe  city's  limits  in  search  of  such  game  as  bushrangers,  eyed 
Iforden  with  a  glance  that  did  not  argue  much  for  the  ex- 
cfommissioner's  happiness  the  coming  six  hours.  In  fact, 
he  made  such  desperate  attempts  to  pierce  and  freeze  the 
very  soul  of  my  friend,  that  I  could  no  longer  contain  my- 
self, and  I  roared  with  laughter  ;  and  in  this  Hez  and  Mur- 
den joined. 

"  Ho,  ho,"  croaked  the  sergeant ;  "  we'll  see  who'll  laugh 
after  a  night  at  the  station-house.     We'll  see  what  you've 


THE  ARREST   AND  DISCHARGE.  73 

got  to  say  afore  the  beak  in  the  morning.  Damn  youi'  im- 
pudence, what  do  you  mean  by  grinning  at  a  hoiEcer  of  the 
law  in  that  way  ?  "  The  indignant  fellow  raised  his  club,  and 
made  a  motion  to  strike  us ;  but  Murden  drew  back,  and  for 
the  first  time  assumed  a  dignity  that  well  became  him. 

"  Hold  your  hand,"  he  cried.  "  You  have  but  a  poor 
idea  of  an  officer's  duty  if  you  think  that  he  can  club  a  mati 
for  laughing." 

"  Well,  you  is  cussed  impudent,  at  any  rate,"  muttered  the 
sergeant.  "  I  won't  strike  you,  but  I'll  take  you  to  ths  sta- 
tion-house.    Bring  'em  along." 

*'  Why  not  whisper  to  them  who  you  are  .'*  *'  I  asked  Mur- 
den, as  the  officers  closed  around  us. 

**  Hush !  don't  mention  such  a  thing,"  was  the  reply. 
*'  We  are  not  yet  clear  of  the  Mud-Laners.  Keep  mum ;  all 
will  be  weU." 

We  marched  along,  Hez  laboring  under  an  impression  that 
he  was  to  be  transported  to  the  hulks,  or  sent  up  the  country 
and  set  to  work  on  the  roads  ;  and  while  whining  we  reached 
the  vicinity  of  gas  lights.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  did  Mur- 
den begin  to  breathe  as  though  he  was  safe,  and  as  though 
the  valuable  jewels  which  he  carried  in  his  breast  were  to  be 
the  means  of  purchasing  his  restoration  to  rank  and  honor, 
riches  and  importance.  In  fact,  so  easy  did  he  feel  in  re- 
gard to  the  future,  that  more  than  once  he  made  an  attempt 
to  whistle  a  lively  march,  and  only  broke  down  when  the 
gooseberry-looking  sergeant  ordered  less  noise. 

At  the  station-house  we  were  ushered  into  the  presence 
of  the  officer  who  had  command  of  the  watch  at  that  hour 
of  the  night.  The  official  sat  at  a  desk,  writing.  His 
bauk  was  towards  us ;  so  we  waited  for  him  to  turn  round 
and  see  if  we  knew  him.  At  last  he  threw  down  his  pen 
and  faced  us.  To  our  surprise  and  pleasure  it  was  Lieuten- 
ant Maurice,  our  old  friend  and  companion.  We  pulled  our 
saps  over  our  eyes  so  that  he  would  not  immediately  recog- 
nize us,  and  then  waited  for  his  judgment.  It  was  given  in 
a  few  words.  Casting  his  eyes  over  us  with  a  quick  glance, 
he  said, — 


74  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

*'  Where  did  you  pick  up  these  miserable-looking  devils  ? ' 

"  Fighting,  sir,  in  Wretched  Cove  Court,"  was  the  replj? 
of  the  sergeant.  *'  Caught  'em  at  it.  This  cuss  was  throw- 
ing stones.  I  seed  him."  He  pointed  to  Murden.  The 
police  officer  was  a  most  proficient  liar,  and  I  looked  at  him 
with  admiration,  as  a  most  excellent  repz-esentation  of  a  cer- 
tain class  of  Australians. 

"  Put  them  in  No.  5,"  said  Maurice,  "  and  bring  me  their 
naine.^." 

"Ha!  ha!  what  did  I  tell  you?"  chuckled  the  sergeant, 
ao  he  pushed  us  towards  a  cell. 

**  I'm  nat  going  in  there,"  replied  Murden.  "  I'm  going 
home." 

"  0,  ycu  will,  will  you?"  asked  the  sergeant  in  an  iron- 
ical tone.     *'  Perhaps  you  will  let  me  accompany  you." 

'- 1  have  no  objections,  Pm  sure  ;  "  and  as  Murden  spoke 
he  removed  the  false  beard,  and  rubbed  off  some  of  the 
mud  which  had  clung  to  his  nose  and  eyebrows,  and  at  the 
same  moment  he  took  off  his  cap  and  stood  before  the  as- 
tonished officers,  all  of  whom  knew  him  as  well  as  they 
knew  each  other. 

I  glanced  at  the  sergeant.  He  was  so  surprised  that  he 
fcrgci  to  blush,  or  speak  a  word  ;  but  as  soon  as  he  recov- 
ered his  presence  of  mind,  he  said,  — 

'•'  I  'opes,  Mr.  Murden,  that  you  don't  think  I  would  do 
^his  on  a-purpose,  do  you  ? " 

"  I  think  this,  Birney,"  was  the  reply :  "  You  don't  un- 
'^.erstand  your  business  as  well  as  you  should.  You  have 
made  a  false  charge  against  us,  and  if  that  was  known  a\ 
headquarters  it  would  cost  you  your  place." 

'*  I  'opes,  Mr.  Murden,  that  you  won't  go  for  to  epeak  a 
hard  word  agin  a  poor  feller,"  whined  the  sergeant. 

"  Go  to  your  beats,  men,"  the  lieutenant  ordered,  **  and 
keep  the  Mud-Laners  steady.  Sergeant,  you  will  report 
yourself  under  arrest." 

As  soon  as  the  men  left  the  station  for  their  respective 
beats,  Maurice  called  us  into  his  private  re  oil,  and  asked  in 
*  whisper,  as   though   he  feared  that  the  walls  had  oars, 


THE   ARREST    AND  DISCHARGE.  75 

"  What  is  it  all  about  ?  Sometliing  is  going  on,  or  you  two 
would  not  be  together  at  this  hour  of  the  night.  Can  1 
know  the  secret  r  " 

"  You  should  know  it  without  our  telling  you,"  I  leplied. 

Maurice  thought  for  a  moment,  and  then  said,  *'  It's  the 
diamonds,  I'll  wager  a  nugget.     Have  you  a  trace  of  them  ? " 

"Perhaps  we  have,"  Murden  answered,  "but  it  won't  do 
for  us  to  say  much  about  them  just  at  present.  You  kn^w 
there  is  a  thousand  pounds  reward." 

"  Yes ;  but  if  there  were  two  thousand  offered,  and  I 
thought  that  you  could  lay  a  hand  on  the  sparklers,  and 
through  their  means  be  restored  to  your  former  rank,  I'd 
keep  my  mawlers  off  of  them,  although  I'm  a  poor  man,  and 
the  reward  is  a  temptation." 

"  I  believe  you,  Maurice,"  cried  Murden,  with  a  grasp  of 
his  hand.  "  I  know  that  you  have  always  stood  by  me  dur- 
ing adversity,  and  if  I  am  restored  you  shall  not  suffer  for 
your  friendship." 

"  Yes,"  said  Maurice,  with  a  bright  smile  and  in  a  mean- 
ing tone ;  "  let  us  once  more  beat  for  bushrangers,  and  I 
think  that  I  can  make  more  money  than  the  diamonds  would 
bring  me.  With  you  to  command,  and  I  to  second  you,  I 
think  that  we  should  rake  'em." 

I  thought  that  I  should  laugh,  but  I  managed  to  keep  a 
sober  face,  as  I  shook  hands  with  the  lieutenant  and  bade  him 
good  night.  Then  we  left  the  station-house,  walked  through 
the  sultry,  hot,  deserted  streets,  and  arrived  home  just  as 
daylight  began  to  show  itself.  A  bath,  a  cup  of  good  coffee, 
fresh  from  the  plantations  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  a  mild 
cigar,  a  few  words  of  congratulation,  and  a  hasty  examina- 
tion of  the  jewels,  to  see  if  all  were  in  the  casket,  and  then 
the^y  were  locked  up  in  a  burglar-proof  safe,  aitd  we  retired 
tc  bed 


75  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


HEZ    ANI)    HIS    FEELINGS.  THE    FAT    PORTER    ANI?    THE 

PAGE.  THE    governor's    WIFE. 

*' Is  it  your  intention  to  sleep  all  day  ?"  asked  Murder, 
wlien  he  saw  that  I  had  rubbed  open  my  eyes  and  was  glar- 
ing at  him  in  rather  a  savage  manner,  for  man's  temper  ia 
never  of  a  sweet  nature  if  he  is  awakened  from  a  deep  sleep. 
"  Did  you  wake  me  up  for  the  express  purpose  of  asking 
such  a  question  ? "  I  replied,  looking  at  Hez  with  a  feeling 
of  envy,  for  that  universal  genius  was  snoring  the  snores  of 
the  just. 

*'  It's  no  use,"  cried  Murden.  *'  You  can't  go  off  again. 
I  have  business  for  you,  and  it  must  be  attended  to." 

In  half  an  .hour  we  were  sipping  our  coffee,  eating  cold 
kangaroo  and  dry  toast,  about  as  contented  a  body  of  men 
as  could  be  found  in  Melbourne.  As  soon  as  breakfast  was 
over,  Murden  announced  the  important  information  which  he 
had  but  briefly  alluded  to. 

"  We  must  visit  Lady  Clemenstena,  the  wife  of  the  gov- 
ernor," he  said.  "  She  will  feel  anxious  to  hear  something 
of  her  jewels,  and  therefore  will  give  us  a  cordial  welcome. 
Besides,  she  is  a  pretty  woman,  and  you  like  to  look  at  hand- 
f  ome  faces." 

I  theught  of  the  dark,  blue-eyed  bar-maid,  and  sighed. 
"Let.  -r? ,"  coTitinued  Murden,  "  dress  as  becomes  gentle- 
men. "We  Lave  need  of  good  clothes  and  much  impudence 
if  we  seek  to  carry  our  point.  To-day's  work  will  decide 
my  fate.  If  I  am  fortunate,  in  one  week's  time  I  shall  be 
restored  to  my  position,  and  if  I  am  not,  I  leave  i^ustralia, 
never  to  return." 

While  on  the  way  I  stole  a  look  at  Ilez's  costume.  It  was 
better  than  I  anticipated,  although  his  vest  was  a  little  short, 
and  his  pants  rather  too  tight  for  the  warm  weather.  Mur- 
den was  dressed  in  a  thin  suit,  white  linen  pants  and  vest. 


THE   FAT  PORTEE  AND  THE   PAGE.  77 

with  a  dark  coat ;  and  my  costume  was  similar,  for  1  knew 
what  was  expected  at  the  government  house,  which  I  had 
\dsited  many  times  during  my  first  sojourn  in  Australia. 

*' You  have  the  jewels?"  I  asked,  as  we  irove  through 
some  of  the  streets. 

Murden  touched  his  breast  pocket. 

"  And  you  intend  to  yield  them  up  without  conditions  and 
without  reward } " 

*'  Only  such  as  you  can  make  for  me,"  was  the  cool  answer. 

I  looked  at  him  in  surprise.  I  did  not  understand  him, 
Murden  smiled. 

"  You  don't  think  me  such  a  ninny  as  to  ask  for  a  favor 
just  after  I  have  conferred  one,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  Simply  because  it  would  not  have  the  efi'ect  that  I  desire. 
Her  ladyship  is  a  romantic  woman,  and  if  I  restore  the  jew- 
els to  her,  and  say  that  I  ask  for  no  reward,  she  would  feel 
that  I  desired  one.     Don't  you  notice  my  strategy  ? " 

I  did  begin  to  have  a  slight  view  of  it. 

"  Then  you  stand  on  your  dignity,  and  I  act  the  friendly, 
disinterested  part,  which  is  to  benefit  you  ? " 

"  Precisely ;  so  we  need  say  no  more  on  the  subject." 

We  reached  the  government  house  just  at  twelve  o'clock, 
and  without  waiting  for  an  invitation  —  which  it  is  extremely 
doubtful  if  we  should  have  received,  even  if  we  had  remained 
for  a  week  in  our  carriage  —  we  entered  tne  palace,  and  found 
ourselves  confronted  by  as  bloated  a  looking  porter  as  ever 
left  the  shores  of  old  England  to  be  bitten  by  fleas  and  other 
insects  in  Australia. 

For  a  few  minutes  the  porter  looked  at  us  without  speak- 
ing, and  then  a  frown  gathered  on  his  brow,  and  he  said, 
"  I  shouldn't  have  expected  it  of  you,  Mr.  Murden ;  no,  I 
shouldn't." 

"  Why,  what  do  you  mean,  Tony  ? "  asked  Murden. 

"  To  think  that  you  should  come  'ere  at  this  time  o'  day, 
jist  when  his  lordship  and  her  ladyship  is  a  goin'  to  take 
lunch,  is  more  than  I  can  believe  without  seein'  with  my  own 
hyes." 


78  THE  BUSHRAN(iKKb. 

"  But  we  have  business  with  her  ladyship,  Tony,  and  she 
mil  feel  offended  unless  she  sees  us ;  so,  like  a  good  fellow 
that  you  are,  just  pass  the  word,  and  let  us  slide  by.'* 
The  addle-headed  old  fool  shook  his  pftte  and  sighed. 
"  I  can't  do  it,  Mr.  Murden,  indeed  I  can't,  unless  you  can 
show  me  the  keerd  of  invitation.  It's  as  much  as  my  place 
is  worth,  and  you  knows  it." 

*'  I  know  that  I  have  some  real  English  ale  in  my  house. 
It  came  here  in  the  British  ship  Noble  Son,  and  is  as  fresh 
as  the  day  that  it  was  put  on  board ;  but  not  a  drop  goes 
down  Tony's  throat,  if  it  was  as  parched  as  the  Desert  of 
Sahara,  unless  I  speak  with  her  ladyship  within  an  hour." 

The  expression  of  the  man's  face  was  something  wonder- 
ful to  behold  while  Murden  was  speaking.  His  great,  bloated 
tongue  was  thrust  out,  and  licked  his  lips  as  though  he  could 
in  imagination  taste  the  beverage  which  Murden  had  spoken 
of.  He  pressed  his  fat  hands  upon  his  paunch,  and,  in  a 
hoarse  whisper,  asked,  "Is  it  the  real  stunnin'  Hinglish 
hale?" 

*'  As  sparkling  and  lively  as  a  young  girl  of  seventeen  in 
search  of  a  husband,"  was  the  answer. 
*'  And  you  have  a  cask  of  it  ? " 
"Yes." 

"  And  you  won't  give  me  a  drop  of  it  ? " 
"  Not  a  drop,  unless  you  send  word  to  her  ladyship  that 
we  wish  to  speak  to  her." 

The  fellow's  face  showed  how  much  the  struggle  cost 
him ;  but  at  last  a  gleam  of  light  seemed  to  flash  over  it,  as 
though  he  could  see  his  way  out  of  all  difficulties,  and  he 
whispered,  — 

"  Mr.  Murden,  you  have  a  woice  that  charms  mc  ;  I  at  you 
know  I'd  lose  my  place,  unless  I  could  give  an  excuse  for 
sending  you  up.  You  see  there's  so  many  of  the  common 
trash  what  comes  here,  —  men  and  vimen  vot  don't  know 
nothin'  about  high  life,  —  that  I  has  to  be  on  my  guard  all 
the  time.  Now,  you  see,  if  you  could  only  say  that  you 
vanted  to  ix  her  ladyship  about  her  lost  diamonds,  vy,  it 
vould  help  you  and  me  too,  'cos  I  could  drink  the  hale  v'U 


THE  FAT  rORTER  AND  THE  PAGE.  7S 

you  vas  drinkin'  her  ladyship's  vords.     Ha,  ha ! "  and  th^'^. 
porter  laughed  at  his  jest  until  his  fat  sides  shook  like  -^ 

"  You  have  hit  the  nail  this  time,  Tony,  as  I  knew  you 
could  if  you  tried,"  cried  Murden.  "  Send  word  that  w*" 
wish  to  speak  with  her  regarding  the  diamonds." 

"  And  arter  you  has  made  a  few  inquiries  abcut  the 
jewels,"  continued  the  porter,  "  vy,  I  don't  care  if  you  does 
speak  to  her  about  some  conwict,  or  some  ticket-of-leave 
man,  vhom  you  vants  pardoned.  I  knows  nothin'  about  that, 
you  know." 

Murden  looked  sly,  and  that  pleased  the  fat  porter  so 
much  that  he  was  seized  with  such  a  violent  fit  of  internal 
laughter  that  I  feared  he  would  burst ;  but  he  recovered 
sufficiently  to  touch  a  bell,  and  look  grave  and  profound,  ^m 
terribly  red  in  the  face,  as  a  page  appeared. 

*'  You  lump  of  lampblack,  these  'ere  gentlemen  vant  to 
speak  with  her  ladyship." 

"  Can't  do  it,"  said  the  page,  standing  on  one  foot,. 
*'  She's  eatin',  and  when  she's  eatin'  she  won't  see  any  one  ; 
you  know  dat,  Tony.  We  is  jist  takin'  our  lunch,  and  de 
wittles  is  good.  I  seed  what  it  was,  and  I  means  to  haj 
some." 

The  little  imp  once  more  made  the  circuit  of  the  porter, 
seemed  inclined  to  stand  on  his  head  by  way  of  diversion, 
thought  better  of  it,  and  then  butted  Tony  as  a  compromise. 

"  Look  a-here,  you  imp  of  Satan,"  roared  the  fat  English- 
man ;  "  go  tell  her  ladyship  that  three  gentlemen  want  to 
gee  her  in  the  green  room  about  her  diamonds,  and  that  one 
of  'em  is  Mr.  Murden." 

"  If  she  shies  a  dish  at  dis  head  of  mine,  I  shall  pizcn  yet 
beer,  Tony ;  "  and,  with  these  words,  the  imp  left  us,  disap- 
pearing up  the  broad  staircase. 

"He's  a  warmint,"  said  the  fat  porter,  taking  a  seat,  and 
crossing  his  legs  in  a  reflective  mood.  "  He  vas  took  by 
his  bidship  from  a  Hamerican  valeship.  The  Hamericans  is 
all  Hacks,  you  know,  every  one  of  'em,  'cept  the  Hinglish 
what  .ives  there  to  instruct  'era  and  make  'em  civil,  like  ug 


80  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

Britons  Tot  knows  everytliing,  and  more  too,  and  lamed  il 
all  ourselves." 

The  fat  porter  paused,  thought  for  a  moment,  and  then 
continued :  "  This  black  warmint  belonged  to  the  cap'n  of 
the  valeship,  and  very  proud  of  him  he  vas.  He  used  to 
lick  him  every  day  to  make  him  civil ;  but  I  don't  think  he 
vas  much  improved  by  that  operation,  'cos  you  can  see  vot 
^ihe  imp  is  now.  But  vot  can  you  hexpeet  from  Hamericans, 
vot  is  black,  and  don't  know  no  better  nor  nothin'  ? " 

Murden  winked  to  me  not  to  say  a  word  in  reply ;  so  I 
Femained  silent,  for  the  fellow  was  not  worth  the  expense 
of  an  argument.  And  indeed  I  had  no  time  to  set  him 
right,  had  I  been  so  disposed ;  for  the  little  page  appeared 
at  the  head  of  the  stairs,  slid  down  by  the  banisters,  uttered 
a  subdued  yell,  danced  around  the  porter  once  more,  stopped 
suddenly,  and  jerked  out  a  few  words,  which  we  understood 
to  mean  that  her  ladyship  would  see  us.  The  fat  porter 
aimed  a  blow  at  the  page,  but  the  grinning  imp  easily 
avoided  it,  and  once  more  straddled  the  banisters,  and 
attempted  to  slide  up  stairs ;  but  failing  in  this,  although 
somewhat  puzzled  to  account  for  it,  he  commenced  to  go  up 
the  stairs  on  his  knees,  and  he  would  have  gone  on  his  head 
if  he  could  have  done  so. 

We  followed  the  little  wretch,  and  were  shown  into  the 
reception-room,  furnished  very  plainly,  with  Canton  matting 
on  the  floor,  and  green  curtains,  to  repel  the  hot  sun,  at  the 
windows.  The  chairs  were  willow,  the  lounge  was  b^.mboo  — 
a  Chinese  institution,  most  exquisitely  carved  and  figured, 
bearing  the  handiwork  of  that  patient  people,  in  every  form 
and  grotesque  shape,  that  ornamented  the  front  and  back. 
Leading  from  the  room,  which  was  large  and  square,  were 
folding  doors,  and  through  these  we  expected  the  lady  to 
appear ;  nor  were  we  disappointed,  for  the  black  imp,  with 
a  grin  and  a  chuckle,  said,  — 

"  Now,  you  gemmen,  jist  stay  here  ;  sot  down  or  stand  up, 
jist  as  you  please  ;  but  mind  and  keep  yer  hats  off;  and  when 
her  ladyship  come  in  de  room,  do  yer  get  up,  lay  yer  hand 
on  yer  stomach,  and  bow  jist  as  you  see  me  now." 


THE   GO 7:31ciVU«,'o  WIFE.  ft! 

He  bent  over  to  illustrate,  but  Hez  could  no  longer  endure 
fche  little  ape's  airs.  He  was  not  so  tolerant  to  the  blacls 
race  as  the  bold  Briton  whc  was  with  us ;  so  when  the  lad'a 
body  had  formed  a  curve,  Hopeful's  foot  was  raised,  and 
landed  on  the  centre  of  the  grinning  imp.  He  plunged 
forward,  struck  on  his  hands  and  knees,  but  was  up  in  a 
moment. 

''  What  for  you  do  dat  ? "  he  asked.  "  What  J  do  to 
you?" 

*'  You  little  imp  of  darkness,"  said  Hopeful,  with  a  stern 
look,  "  do  you  mean  to  larn  us  free-born  'Mericans  how  to 
behave  in  the  presence  of  company  ? " 

"  But  how's  I  gwine  to  know  'bout  dat  ? "  said  the  imp, 
rubbing  his  person.  "  Don't  I  b-^.b  to  tell  most  of  de  fat 
Englishmen  how  to  act ;  and  I  s'pose  you  all  de  same." 

And  then  his  feeling  of  wrong  was  forgotten,  as  he 
thought  of  the  fact  that  Hez  was  an  Americai ,  and  once 
more  the  grin  returned  to  his  face,  as  he  asked,  "  What 
part  you  come  from  ?  Me  cbme  from  old  Maryland.  Mo 
slave  at  one  time.  Bun  away  and  go  to  sea.  No  like 
whaleship.  Much  work  and  no  chance  to  sleep.  Make  me 
run  arter  tings  all  de  time.  Me  'Merican,  and  me  is  prmid 
to  see  you." 

It  was  impossible  to  withstand  the  aavances  of  sucn  d 
genius  ;  so  we  smiled  on  him,  and  gave  him  a  silver  dol- 
lar, and  the  imp  was  just  about  to  stand  on  his  head,  wjl?xi 
the  folding  doors  were  thrown  open  with  a  noiseless  sliic, 
and  we  had  just  time  to  arise  and  form  a  group,  whet  in 
glided  a  lady  dressed  very  plain,  but  with  an  aristocratic- 
looking  face  that  was  quite  taking. 

We  saw  all  that,  and  then  a  liveried  servant  annoviocd, 
"Her  ladyship,  the  wife  of  the  governor-general"."  !Ti 
Ottered  these  words,  an  J.  th'^n  disappeared. 


82  THE    BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTE?t  X. 

THE    GOVERNOR    AND    HIS    WIFE.  A    STRONG    PULL   FOR    k 

COMMISSION. 

bER  iad/ship,  tlie  wife  oi  the  governor-general,  was  about 
tliirty-five  years  of  age,  of  commanding  figure,  graceful  in 
her  movements,  with  a  full,  round,  English  form,  a  splendid 
complexion,  clear  white  and  red,  little  pink  ears,  a  most 
lovely  hand,  it  was  so  small  and  transparent,  and  a  little 
foot  which  peeped  from  beneath  her  thin  white  dress,  and 
e^owed  that  it  was  clothed  ii'  a  most  unexceptionable  slipper. 
In  her  hair  was  braided  several  roses,  or  plants  indigenous 
to  Australian  gardens ;  but  about  her  person  there  was  no 
jewelr;^ .  with  the  exception  of  a  plain  gold  ring,  which  all 
English  women  are  proud  to  wear  when  married.  It  is  the 
last  ornament  that  is  parted  with  in  case  of  pecuniary  dis- 
tress, and  violent  is  the  grief  which  she  manifests  even  when 
compelled  to  pledge  the  slim  rim  of  gold  for  the  sake  of 
obtaining  a  little  food.  It  is  her  badge  of  honesty,  and 
with  it  on  her  finger,  she  can  show  her  face  to  the  world 
without  a  blush  or  thought  of  shame.  And  such  is  its  sacred 
naturo,  that  even  those  who  should  wear  one  for  the  sake  of 
character  and  reputation,  seldom  impose  upon  the  public  by 
a  false  certificate  of  goodness. 

But  while  I  have  been  rambline  the  governor's  wife  is 
•standing  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  her  eyes  taking  in  our 
dimensions  at  a  glance  ;  for  she  was  a  woman  of  the  worldj. 
and  could  read  character  like  the  open  pages  of  a  book. 
Sb-i  knew  Murden  by  sight  and  name,  for  he  had  met  her 
once  or  twice  when  commissioner  :  but  her  station  was  30 
far  above  his  own,  that  a  slight  smile  and  a  mere  nod  of 
the  head  were  sufficient  to  remind  him  that  he  was  not  for- 
gotten. 

During  all  this  time  we  were  on  our  feet,  bowing  quite 
low,  with  the  exception  of  Hez,  who  whispered  in  my  ear, 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  HIS  WlFFr  83 

"  81ie*s  jisj  like  a:y  Martha,  only  twice  as  proud,  and  not  so 
purty." 

"  Hush  !  "   I  said.     "  She  may  hear  you." 

"I  don't  care  if  she  does,"  was  the  answer.  "It's  true, 
^)y  jingo  ;  and  I  know  it,  if  you  don't." 

Her  ladyship  saw  the  action,  but  did  not  catch  the  words, 
of  course ;  so  she  paused  a  moment,  put  her  gold  eye- 
glasses to  her  eyes,  and  then  said,  in  rather  a  low  tone,  to  be 
jure,  but  still  quite  distinct,  and  with  a  rich  voice,  *'  This 
is  Mr.  Murden,  I  think." 

3Ir.  Murden  ducked  his  head,  took  a  biep  foi  .yard;  and 
then  one  backward,  wiggled  a  little,  and  replied,  "Yes, 
mum." 

"  And  the  other  rentlemen,"  said  her  ladyship,  "  do  I 
know  them  ? " 

"  No,  mum,"  was  the  reply ;  and  Murden  took  another 
step  forward,  a  second  step  backwar-?  and  ducked  his  head 
as  usual. 

Her  ladyship  did  not  ask  the  question  :  but  her  looks  said 
quite  plainly,  "  Who  are  they  ?  " 

"  This  gentleman,  mum,"  said  Murden,  pointing  his  tnutab 
at  me,  "  is  no  stranger  in  Australia.  He  spent  some  years 
here  at  one  time,  and  now  comes  back  'cos  he  likes  the 
country  so  much.  He  was  very  celebrated  the  time  he  was 
here.  You  may  have  heard  of  him,  mum ;  "  and  Murden 
gave  my  whole  name. 

Her  ladyship  smiled  in  the  most  genial  manner,  as 
thougu  she  was  familiar  with  some  of  my  antecedents. 

"Is  it  possible  that  I  see  one  of  those  brave  imevioana 
who  rendered  so  much  service  to  the  country  a  few  3* ears 
isince,  or  before  my  husband  took  office  ? " 

*'  Y:;s,  mum,  this  is  the  man,"  cried  Murden.  "  His  com- 
panion is  dead  —  died  of  what  disease?"  and  Murden 
turned  to  me  for  information.  ♦ 

I  did  not  answer  Murden,  for  her  ladyship,  with  leady  tacv, 
saw  my  position,  and  hastened  to  relieve  me. 

"  I  regret  to  hear  that  your  brave  and  gallant  comrade  id 
dead.     The  world  can  ill  afford  to   spare   such  heroes.     J 


84  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

wish  we  had  more  of  the  same  kind.  If  we  had,"  —  and  here 
she  looked  hard  at  Murden,  —  "  I  don't  think  that  so  many 
robbers  would  go  unpunished  in  the  colony.  I  am  sure  it  ia 
very  dreadful  that  they  should  be  about,  but  it  is  much  more 
dreadful  that  they  should  steal  one's  valuables  and  go  un- 
punished." 

"  Yes,  mum,"  Murden  hastened  to  answer,  "  I  wish  we  had 
»  few  more  like  the  dead  and  gone  Mr.  Frederick.  We 
?fOiild  not  allow  bushrangers  much  peace.  But  why  do  I 
utter  such  a  wish  ? "  Murden  said,  as  though  he  had  just  re- 
membered ?■  certain  fact.  "  It  is  nothing  to  me.  I  am  not 
in  the  department,  and  therefore  should  not  repine  because 
matters  are  not  conducted  to  suit  me." 

The  pensive  tone  in  which  this  was  uttered  was  most 
admirable.  Murden  was  a  skilful  detective,  and  knew  the 
workings  of  a  human  hear+  as  well  as  most  men  ;  consequently, 
he  was  not  surprisea  wneu  ner  ladyship  asked  with  a  sort  of 
fashionable  listlessness,  and  with  a  slight  flourish  of  her 
glass, — 

"  Why  did  you  leave  the  department,  Mr.  Murden  ?  " 

"Because,  mum,"  was  the  answer,  "there  were  certain 
charges  brought  against  me  by  a  bushranger,  a  fellow  whom 
I  had  captured,  and  whose  word  was  not  worth  an  Australian 
sheep.  But  I  am  content.  I  have  escaped  the  vexations  of 
office,  and  can  live  like  a  private  citizen,  happy  and  contented 
under  the  wise  rule  of  your  honored  huFband,  whom  all  men 
pr&Ase  and  Iov6." 

"  Except  the  opposition,"  cried  the  lady,  in  a  quick  tone, 
but  with  a  sweet  smile  at  the  flattery  respecting  her  husband. 
"You  know  they  say  that  he  is  incompetent  for  the  office." 

She  L^miled  as  though  she  knew  that  such  remarks  were 
imjust,  and  before  the  sunbeam  had  died  away,  Murden  had 
disclaimed  the  horrible  insinuation. 

"  A  more  noble,  honorable  gentleman  than  the  lord,  your 
hr.sband,  never  occupied  the  government  house ;  and  as  for 
those  opposition  men,  they  would  disgrace  any  country." 

I  saw  that  the  conversation  was  assuming  a  political  turn 
•  —  a  dangerous  course    unless   a   man   is    skilful  with   his 


THE   GOVERNOE  A^fD   HIS  WIFE.  85 

\fi  apons  ;  so  I  winked  to  Murden  to  liold  up  ;  but  jus*i  at 
that  moment  the  folding  doors  were  thrown  open  wita  a 
crash,  and  in  strode  a  gentleman  dressed  in  the  most  negicc^,- 
fal  manner,  and  with  the  most  common-looking  jiothes.  I 
should  have  taken  him,  had  I  met  him  in  the  streets  of  Mel- 
'^'ourne,  for  the  head  of  some  wholesale  grocery  store,  or  a 
grain  merchant.  He  was  rather  short  and  fat,  with  a  red 
face,  leg-of-mutton  whiskers  and  mustache,  both  about  £.;.' 
red  as  they  could  be  and  go  unpainted  ;  and  this  man  war  : 
lord  and  the  governor-general  of  the  province.  I  knew  this 
by  the  workings  of  Murden's  back,  for  it  went  up  aud  down 
like  that  of  a  cat  when  in  the  presence  of  a  strange  dog,  and 
be  hopped  and  skipped  about  like  a  ballet  dancer. 

*'  0,  my  lord,"  cried  the  wife,  "  I  am  so  glad  that  you 
have  come !  "We  have  here  one  of  the  most  devoted  sup- 
porters of  your  government.  He  has  a  most  appreciating 
regard  for  you  and  the  measures  which  you  have  introduced." 

"  Egad !  I'm  glad  of  that,  for  I  meet  but  few  men  who 
are  of  the  same  opinion,"  cried  his  lordship,  with  a  jolly 
laugh  that  made  his  fat  stomach  shake  like  a  jelly. 

"  The  fact  of  it  is,"  continued  his  lordship,  wiping  his 
eye-glasses,  and  then  taking  a  cool  survey  of  our  party,  *'  the 
opposition  persist  in  calling  me  a  blockhead,  and  a  man  that 
does  not  know  the  interests  of  the  country.  J^ow  I  can  eat 
a  good  dinner  and  listen  to  long,  boring  addresses ;  and  if 
those  things  are  not  of  use  to  the  colony,  then  I  draw  mj 
salary  in  vain." 

•By  the  way,  my  dear,"  said  his  lordship,  after  he  had 
laughed  enough  to  satisfy  a  reasonable  man,  "  I  hope  that  3 
do  not  interrupt  you  in  your  audience.  I  don't  know  the 
business  which  calls  the  gentlemen  here,  and  I  do  not 
recognize  but  one  of  them.  This  is  Mr.  Murden,  I  think," 
Mr.  Murden  ducked  his  head  and  skipped  around  lik'*  « 
monkey  on  hot  pavements. 

"  Yes,  your  lordship,"  he  said,  and  smiled  in  the  mtrst 
affable  manner. 

"  At  one  time  police  commissioner  ? "  and  his  Icrdshtj 
once  more  raised  liis  glass  and  looked  at  us. 


B€  THE  BUSHKANGEKS. 

'   Yes,  your  lordship." 

-*  And  you  waat  to  go  back  to  tlie  force  ?  " 

"  Ye3,  your  lordship." 

*'  And  you  expect  that  her  ladyship  will  use  her  iufluence 
in  your  behalf  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  she  may  be  induced  to,"  was  the  evasive  reply ; 
for  Murden  began  to  lose  his  character  of  worshipper  of 
rank,  and  assume  that  which  was  more  natural  to  him,  —  an 
independent  detective,  afraid  of  neither  man  nor  devil. 

^'What  do  you  mean  by  perhaps?"  asked  his  lordship, 
abruptly. 

"  I  mean  that  if  I  should  serve  her  ladyship  most  faith- 
fully, that  I  have  nothing  to  ask  her  for,  although  if  I  was 
restored  to  the  police,  I  should  feel  grateful  to  the  one  who 
aocomplished  so  desirable  a  result." 

"  0,  but  I  can  do  nothing  for  you,"  cried  her  ladyship. 
"  I  supposed  that  you  desired  an  audience  for  some  other 
purpose." 

"  The  fact  of  it  is,"  said  his  lordship,  with  a  good-natured, 
lazy  yawn,  "  the  office  which  you  held  is  kept  open  to  reward 
the  man  who  is  smart  enough  to  recover  her  ladyship's 
diamonds.     You  know  of  the  loss,  I  suppose  ? " 

"  0,  if  I  could  only  find  them  !  "  and  her  ladyship  wrung 
her  hands  and  looked  her  distress. 

"  Well,  you  never  will,"  was  the  consoling  reply  of  the 
husband.  "  Your  diamonds  are  out  of  the  country  long 
before  this.  Egad !  I  have  a  notion  to  ask  Parliament  to 
give  me  a  donation  to  compensate  me  for  the  loss.  Thun- 
der it  makes  me  feel  like  a  poor  man  every  time  I  think  of 
the  matter." 

Then  Murden  looked  sublime  as  he  straightened  up,  smiled, 
put  his  hand  in  his  breast,  pulled  out  the  casket,  and  exposed 
it  to  the  eyes  of  the  lady.  She  saw  it,  and  flushed  scarlet, 
BO  great  was  her  surprise  and  fear,  and  then  rushed  towards 
my  friend  in  a  most  unaristocratic  manner,  exclaiming,  *'  0, 
Mr.  Murden,  don't  deceive  f.ie,  but  tell  me,  have  you  found 
♦ny  ^.ev^els  ? " 

'*  Egad  !  but  it's  the  case  at  all  events,"  (jried  his  Irrdship. 


I 


A   STRONG  PULL  FOB  A  COMMISSION.  8? 

-'  With  a  polite  bow  Murden  placed  the  casket  in  her  hand, 

"  Your  ladyship  will  find  the  jewels  all  safe.  I  have  com- 
pared them  with  the  list  as  advertised,  and  there  are  none 
missing.     I  give  you  joy  at  recovering  them." 

He  turned  and  left  the  room,  Hez  following  him.  Murden 
had  winked  to  me  to  remain,  and  I  did  so,  the  governor  and 
his  wif  3  being  too  much  absorbed  in  examining  the  lost  treas- 
ure tc  pay  the  least  attention  to  us.  I  heard  their  ex- 
clamations of  pleasure,  surprise,  and  admiration;  and  after 
they  had  got  over  the  first  burst  of  astonishment  the  aris- 
tocratic couple  turned  towards  me. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Murden  has  left  the  room,"  cried  her  lady- 
ship. "  I  am  sorry  that  he  has  gone.  I  want  to  thank  him 
for  what  he  has  done." 

"  Egad  !  I  should  think  a  man  would  want  more  than 
thanks  for  returning  a  box  of  jewels  like  that.  There's  a 
thousand  pounds  reward  offered,  and  it  must  come  out  of 
your  pocket-money  ;  I  can't  afford  to  pay  it." 

"  I  hope  that  you  will  not  offend  Mr.  Murden,"  I  said, 
*'  by  offering  to  reward  him  for  what  he  has  done.  To  be 
sure,  he  encountered  great  peril  in  his  endeavors  to  recover 
the  jewels ;  but  I  assure  you  that  no  mercenary  motives  ac- 
tuated Lim  to  undertake  the  task.  It  was  simply  a  desire  to 
show  the  police  force  what  one  man,  of  a  comprehensive 
mind,  could  accomplish  after  others  had  failed/ 

"  Egad  !  it  ain't  every  man  who  would  refuse  a  thousand 
pounds.     I  should  have  hard  work  to  do  it  myself." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  you  can  inform  us  respecting  the 
manner  in  which  my  jewels  were  recovered,"  her  ladyship 
Baid,  with  a  sweet  smile,  her  white  fingers  still  at  work 
dngering  the  diamonds  and  emeralds. 

I  related  in  a  brief  manner  some  of  the  particulars  of  the 
case,  showing  up  Murden  in  the  most  prominent  manner. 

"  You  give  yourself  and  countryman  no  praise  in  recover- 
ing the  jewels,"  she  said.     "  Are  all  Americans  as  modest } " 

"  I  speak  sincerely  when  I  say  that  unless  Mr.  Murden 
Mad  joined  in  the  search,  your  jewels  would  never  have  be^n 
.  reoovered,"  I  replied,  evading  the  question. 


88  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  And  your  reward,"  said  her  ladyship,  with  a  sweet  siniii^ 
^  for  the  part  you  have  performed  is  —  " 

"  Your  ladyship's  gratitude." 

"  You  have  that,  most  assuredly." 

"  Egad  !  I  should  think  so  ;  it's  a  cheap  way  of  settling  a 
debt,"  cried  his  lordship,  with  a  jolly  laugh,  and  a  shake  of 
his  fat  stomach  that  looked  dangerous  for  his  buttons. 

"  I  am  sure  that  you  have  some  favor  to  ask  of  me  :  '  tha 
lady  said,  with  an  encouraging  smile.  "  If  not  for  yourself, 
can't  you  think  of  some  friend  who  needs  the  government 
house  patronage  ? " 

**  If  he  don't  belong  to  the  opposition  I  might  do  some- 
thing for  him,"  muttered  the  governor. 

"  I  have  a  friend,  as  your  ladyship  surmises,"  I  replied, 
"  and  that  friend  is  quite  dear  to  me.  We  have  together 
encountered  many  dangers,  and  would  seek  more  under  cer- 
tain circumstances." 

"  You  speak  of  Mr.  Murden,"  she  said,  with  a  smile. 

"I  do." 

*'  But  you  know,  egad  !  "  remarked*his  lordship,  "  that  he 
is  accused  of  taking  money  from  prisoners.  That's  a  seri- 
ous offence." 

"But  never  proveJ,"  I  replied. 

"  But  one  of  the  men  supported  the  assertion,"  continued 
his  lordship.  "Egad!  the  evidence  was  said  to  be  com- 
plete." 

"  The  officer  had  been  reprimanded  for  cowardice  m  the 
presence  of  an  enemy.  For  that  he  vowed  revenge.  He 
accomplished  his  designs,  and  remains  in  the  department, 
•while  an  able  man  was  compelled  to  leave  it." 

"  You  see,  my  lord,  that  the  gentleman  has  an  answer  for 
every  objection  that  you  can  urge." 

"  Just  like  the  d — d  opposition,"  muttered  the  governor. 

"  I  need  not  remind  you  that  a  few  minutes  since  you  de- 
clared that  the  office  would  be  bestowed  upon  the  man  who 
'iras  so  fortunate  as  to  find  her  ladyship's  diamonds."  Al 
th'c:  the  lady  laughed. 


A  STRONG   PULL  FOR  A  COMMISSION.  8J* 

"  You  know  you  made  such  a  statement,  my  lord,  and  1 
rtiink  that  you  should  adhere  to  your  word." 

*'  But  I  shall  have  trouble,  and  you  know  I  don  t  like 
trouble." 

At  the&e  words  I  bowed  and  turned  towards  the  door 
Both  the  governor  and  his  wife  looked  surprised. 

"  You  are  not  intending  to  leave  us  ? "  his  lordship  asked 

'*  I  do  intend  to,  for  it  is  too  much  trouble  for  me  to  re- 
main. I  think  that  after  a  person  has  performed  so  impor- 
tant  a  service  as  Mr.  Murden,  that  he  should  be  entitled  to  a 
little  consideration.  But,  as  you  do  not  seem  to  think  so,  I 
will  take  my  leave," 

"  But  look  here.  Egad  !  a  man  hasn't  a  chance  to  speak 
to  you,  you  fly  off  so.     Just  like  the  opposition." 

Her  ladyship  gave  me  a  glance  of  approval,  as  though  1 
had  taken  the  right  course. 

"  Egad !  well,  I'll  think  of  the  whole  matter,  and  let  you 
know  in  a  day  or  two." 

"  It  will  then  be  too  late.  I  shall  not  be  in  the  city,  per- 
laps." 

"  Give  me  a  day  to  consult  with  my  cabinet." 

I  shook  my  head  and  moved  towards  the  door.  The  gov- 
ernor looked  distressed. 

"  What  will  satisfy  you  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Let  me  leave  the  house  with  the  appointment  in  mj 
pocket." 

"Egad!  that's  sudden.  What  shall  I  do?"  and  he 
kooked  towards  his  wife. 

"  The  gentleman's  demands  are  reasonable.  I  should 
oomply  with  them,"  the  lady  said. 

Only  for  a  moment  did  he  hesitate  ;  and  then  he  cried, 
"  Wait  hare  one  moment.  My  dear,  you  wiU  en'-ertain 
him." 


PQ  THE  BUSHR^KtiEBS. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

THE   RED   LION. MISS    JENNY   AND    HER   TEMPER,  HEB 

■WARNINGS. ARRIVAL    OE    THE    PET. 

As  soon  as  his  lordsliip  had  left  the  apartment,  a  radi^t 
smile  was  displayed  on  the  face  of  his  wife,  as  though  she 
was  much  pleased  at  what  had  occurred. 

**  I  am  glad  you  assumed  the  position  that  you  did,"  she 
said,  "  for  I  am  deeply  indebted  to  you  and  Mr.  Murden." 

I  bowed,  for  it  is  not  often  that  the  blood  of  the  How- 
ards makes  a  confidant  of  a  plebeian,  and  her  conversing  in 
such  an  unrestrained  manner  showed  that  she  could  confide 
in  me. 

*'  On  Thursday  evening,"  continued  the  lady,  "  the  regu- 
lar government-house  levee  takes  place,  and  I  should  be 
pleased  to  see  you  here.  You  will  meet  some  pleasant  peo- 
ple, and  some  who  may  be  of  assistance  to  you  during  your 
residence  in  the  country.     If  your  wife  is  with  you  —  " 

I  interrupted  her  by  a  smile. 

"  0,  I  see.  You  have  not  yet  committed  yourself  by 
taking  a  wife." 

But  before  her  ladyship  could  ask  more  questions,  the 
governor  came  in. 

"Egad!"  cried  his  lordship,  with  a  rueful  smile,  -^I 
haven't  been  so  driven  since  the  confounded  opposition 
made  me  change  my  cabinet.  Here  is  Mr.  Murden's  ap- 
pointment; and  tell  him  that  I  expect  a  good  account  of  his 
doings.  Don't  forget  to  come  to  the  levee.  My  wife  will 
send  you  a  card.  Murden  had  better  come  also.  It  will 
look  well." 

"  I  have  an  American  friend  with  me,"  I  suggested. 

"  We  will  send  him  a  card,  never  fear ;  and  now  good  by." 

I  saw  the  carriage  which  brought  us  to  the  place  wait- 
ing near  the  gate,  with  Murden's  head  and  Hez's  head  oui 
of  the  windows,  watching  my  coming. 


THE    RED  LION.  91 

•'  Have  you  succeeded  ?  "  asked  Murden. 

I  held  the  paper  aloft,  and  shook  it  as  an  answer. 

*'  Good  God !  I  believe  you  have  accomplished  youi 
object,"  Murden  cried. 

*'  I  have,"  was  my  answer  ;  "  and  here  is  the  commission, 
signed  and  sealed." 

My  friend  seized  it,  opened  it,  and  read  its  contents. 
Then  T  saw  a  tear  steal  to  his  eye,  and  he  extended  his 
iir^nd,  and  pressed  mine  with  the  grasp  of  a  giant. 

*'  I.  am  indebted  to  you  for  all  this,"  he  said,  *'  and  if  T 
live  I  will  repay  the  obligation." 

"Your  own  merit  has  contributed  to  the  result,"  I  re- 
marked, in  a  quiet  tone.  "  Without  that,  all  pleadings 
would  have  been  in  vain." 

"  Well,  I  am  thankful  that  I  am  restored.  It  is  an 
unexpected  result." 

While  he  was  laying  out  his  plans  for  the  future,  wl^ 
arrived  home  ;  and  the  instant  we  entered  the  house,  Tom, 
the  convict  servant,  was  summoned.  The  fellow  had  been 
transported  for  attempting  to  burn  up  his  grandmother,  who 
had  made  a  will  in  his  favor,  and  then  persistently  refused 
to  die.  Tom  entered  the  room,  as  though  he  expected  to 
be  commended  for  some  of  his  good  deeds.  He  had 
acquired  a  passion  for  burning  people.  Once  he  had 
seated  the  cook  on  a  red-hot  stove,  because  the  latter  did 
not  please  him ;  and  once  he  had  attempted  to  set  fire  to 
the  chambermaid's  clothes. 

"  Well,  Tom,"  cried  Murden,  when  he  saw  his  servant 
waiting  for  commands,  "have  you  burned  any  one  to-day?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"Do  you  feel  an  inclination  that  way  ?  " 

"  I  did  this  morning,  sir,"  answered  the  candidate,  with 
great  frankness. 

"  Ah  !  how  was  that  ?  " 

"  The  cook,  sir,  burned  the  curry,  and  I  wanted  to  burn 
him." 

"  Restrain  your  passion,  my  friend,"  cried  the  commis- 
Bioner,  with  the  utmost  coolness.     "  It  won't  do  to  indulge 


B2  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

youi  appetite  too  often.  I  can  afford  one  victim  a  year, 
but  more  than  that  makes  the  luxury  too  expensive.  But  T 
have  news  for  you.  I  have  been  restored  to  my  old  position 
I  am  once  more  commissioner,  and  wish  to  celebrate  tho 
return  to  office.  Furnish  me,  at  six  o'clock,  with  such  a 
dinner  as  I  shall  feel  proud  of;  and  if  you  fail,  I'll  see  wliat 
/  can  do  in  the  burning  line." 

Tom  left  the  room  to  prepare  the  dinner ;  and  then  Mur- 
«len  announced  his  intention  of  visiting  a  few  friends,  ami 
kxiviting  them  to  the  feast. 

*'  In  the  mean  time,  my  boy,"  said  my  friend,  "  you  can 
amuse  yourself  the  best  way  that  you  can.  I  shall  be  home 
:n  the  course  of  two  hours." 

Ha  left  the  house,  and  Hez  retired  to  take  a  nap.  I  had 
iiOthing  to  do ;  so  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  I  com- 
menced thinking  of  Jenny,  the  bar-maid.  At  last  I  formed 
a  resolution.  I  would  go  to  her.  I  would  look  at  her 
cweet  face  once  more,  and  then  forget  it.  I  again  as- 
sumed the  garb  of  a  sailor,  put  a  revolver  in  my  pocket, 
and  left  the  house.  I  had  no  trouble  in  finding  the  street ; 
yet  when  I  entered  it  and  neared  the  saloon,  my  heart  began 
to  fail  me,  and  I  was  almost  inclined  to  turn  back,  and  let 
Jenny  and  her  sweet  face  go ;  but  beauty  conquered,  and  at 
last  I  entered  the  porter-house  and  took  a  seat.  Then,  for 
the  first  time,  I  glanced  towards  the  bar,  and  saw  the  girl  I 
so  much  desired  to  see,  with  her  large  blue  eyes  scanning 
my  face,  as  though  she  was  trying  to  recollect  where  she 
had  seen  it.  I  felt  the  blood  rush  to  my  face,  and  for  a 
moment  I  lowered  my  eyes ;  when  I  raised  them,  she  was 
no  longer  regarding  me,  and  appeared  to  be  entirely  un- 
.)ware  of  my  presence.  I  would  have  given  much  to  have 
read  her  thoughts,  and  known  that  she  had  some  slight 
regard  for  me.  But  I  would  not  acknowledge  that  I  was  in 
love. 

As  the  girl  did  not  appear  to  pay  the  least  attention  to 
me,  her  eyes  being  fastened  on  a  book,  I  knocked  on  t!:i 
table,  and  when  she  looked  towards  me  I  said,  "  A  pint  of 
toor  £,nd  a  cigar,  if  you  please.** 


MISS  JENNY  AND   HER  TEMPER.  93 

As  she  placed  the  articles  on  the  table,  she  said  *'  You 
are  here  again.     Did  I  not  warn  you  last  night  ? " 

"  You  certainly  did  ;  but  I  would  risk  much  to  catch  & 
Bight  of  so  fresh  and  fair  an  English  face  as  you  possess." 

A  proud  curl  of  her  lip  was  the  response  to  the  compli- 
ment ;  but  her  words  were  coarse  as  she  replied,  "  None  of 
your  chaff,  for  I  don't  want  it.  You  did  me  a  service  last 
night,  and  I  attempted  to  repay  it.  I  tell  you  to  leave  the 
city,  for  it  is  no  place  for  you.  If  you  do  not,  you  will  see 
trouble.  Even  now  a  policeman  is  spotting  you  from  the 
other  side  of  the  street.     Will  you  go  ? " 

"  No,  I  will  stay." 

'*  What  fools  you  men  are  ! "  was  her  next  complimentary 
remark.  "  You  never  will  take  advice,  you  never  will  see 
folly  in  the  course  which  you  pursue,  and  like  a  crazy  bull 
you  plunge  headlong  upon  destruction,  and  then  blame  us 
women  as  the  cause  of  it.     I  have  no  patience  with  you." 

"  And  yet  patience  is  a  virtue,  and  I  am  told  that  you 
possess  both  patience  and  virtue." 

"  What's  that  to  you  ? "  she  asked,  with  a  flash  of  her  blue 
eye  that  looked  threatening. 

I  did  not  answer.  I  sipped  my  beer  in  silence,  and  ad- 
mired the  play  of  her  handsome,  regular  features. 

"  You  come  here,"  Jenny  continued,  in  an  indignant  tone, 
"  after  I  have  warned  you  to  avoid  this  place.  You  take  no 
notice  of  my  advice,  as  though  there  were  not  half  a  dozen 
men  within  the  sound  of  my  voice  who  would  sell  you  to  the 
traps  for  a  few  shilliu's.  Take  your  plunder  and  bad  com- 
pany, and  leave  the  city,  or  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you." 

"  As  soon  as  I  can  obtain  a  ship,"  I  commenced ;  but  she 
interrupted  me  with  an  indignant  gesture. 

"  Don't  talk  such  blasted  nonsense  to  me,"  she  said. 
"  You  a  sailor  !  Look  at  your  hands ;  they  are  as  white  aa 
mine." 

*'  Let  me  see,"  I  said,  as  though  desirous  of  confirmation, 
and  I  laid  one  hand  upon  her  own ;  but  she  threw  it  off 
in  a  scornful  manner,  and  looked  as  though  T  meant  to 
tnsult  her. 


54  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

•'Hands  off!"  slie  cried.  ''This  piece  of  goods  ia  not 
in  the  market.     I  have  struck  many  a  man  for  a  less  insult." 

"  And  why  don't  you  strike  me  for  what  I  have  done  ? " 

"  Because  your  impudence  protects  you.  What  were  you 
sent  here  for  ? " 

"  To  make  love  to  you,  I  suppose." 

She  frowned  and  pouted  her  red  lips. 

"  Keep  your  love  to  yourself;  I  want  none  of  it.  Answer 
me  at  once.     What  were  you  transported  for  ?  " 

I  laughed  and  drank  my  beer. 

"  Are  you  a  ticket- of-leave  man  r  Have  you  served  your 
time  ?    or  are  you  an  escaped  convict  ?  " 

"  An  admirable  classification,"  I  cried.  "  Can't  you  add 
one  more,  and  think  me  a  honest  man  ?  '* 

"  No,"  was  the  prompt  answer. 

"  Why  not  ? " 

"  Because  honest  men,  who  wear  diamonds  on  their  fin- 
gers and  trim  their  nails  with  care,  don't  visit  the  Red  Lion.'' 

"  Not  if  they  are  in  love  ? " 

"  Men  like  you  don't  love  girls  like  me  for  any  honest 
purpose." 

I  lighted  a  fresh  cigar,  and  surrounded  my  face  with  a 
cloud  of  smoke.  I  did  it  to  prevent  the  young  woman  from 
scanning  my  features  as  closely  as  she  had  done.  I  was 
successful  in  my  object,  for  she  dropped  her  eyes  and  asked., 
"  Can't  you  tell  me  what  lay  you  are  on,  and  what  you  in- 
tend to  do  in  Melbourne  ?  " 

"  Most  of  my  time  will  be  spent  in  visiting  the  Red  Lioc 
and  looking  at  you." 

"  Are  you  in  earnest  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Then  you  are  a  fool,  and  will  find  every  bone  in  your 
body  broken  after  your  money  is  gone.  Do  you  under- 
stand ? " 

"  No." 

I  was  determined  not  to,  for  I  read  in  her  clear  blue  eyes 
an  interest  in  my  fate  which  the  proud  girl  would  fain  hav» 
concealed. 


JENNY'S  WARNINGS.  — ARRIVAL  OF  THi:   PET.  95 

"  You  make  no  attempt  to  understand  me,"  she  cried,  in 
a  passionate  manner.  "  You  are  dull,  or  pretend  to  be.  I 
have  told  you  that  I  would  do  you  a  service  in  return  for  the 
one  which  you  did  me  last  night.  You  are  young  and  brave 
Such  being  the  case,  why  don't  you  seek  some,  honorable 
employment,  and  lead  an  honest  life  ? " 

T  appeared  to  think  most  seriously  of  her  words. 

*^JIowmuch  money  have  you?"  she  asked,  in  a  blout 
Doanner. 

"  Ten  pounds  or  so,"  I  answered. 

"  Then  save  it;  for  it  will  not  last  a  week  if  my  father 
sees  it." 

"  Let  me  understand  you,"  I  said,  in  a  determined  tone. 
"  Your  amiable  and  gentle-hearted  parent  is  in  the  habit 
of  encouraging  the  visits  of  young  men ;  he  allows  them  to 
become  infatuated  with  your  beauty,  but  they  can  only  gaze 
at  the  shadow,  and  not  hope  for  the  substance.  When  they 
hint  at  that,  if  their  money  is  nearly  gone,  they  are  kicked 
into  the  street,  or  their  bones  are  broken  by  a  blow  of  the 
Pet's  huge  fist.     Am  I  right  ?  " 

She  nodded  her  head  in  a  slight  manner,  and  said,  **  You 
are  no  fool." 

"  Thank  you.  The  Pet  shall  find  that  I  am  not.  Now,  I 
have  taken  care  of  myself  for  many  years.  Don't  think  that 
your  father  can  deceive  me,  or  that  I  am  blind  to  your  beauty 
or  your  defects.  I  know  them,  and,  knowing  them,  I  enter 
the  field  as  an  admirer." 

"  With  what  kind  of  intentions  ?  " 

"  0,  honorable,"  I  answered,  with  a  smile. 

"  You  lie  !  "  she  cried,  in  a  passionate  tone  ;  and  she  left 
me  for  her  place  behind  the  bar ;  and  just  at  that  momeni 
tlie  Pet  entered  the  saloon  from  the  door  at  the  back  part  of 
Ihe  room. 


96  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

CHAPTEK   XII. 

THE    RED    LION. DESPERATE    STRTJGGLE. 

I  BATHER  think  that  even  my  impudence  was  dashed  by 
ihe  Pet's  appearance ;  for  I  buried  my  face  in  the  pot  of 
ale,  and  hoped  that  he  would  pass  on  to  the  street ;  but  he 
did  not,  for  he  saw  that  a  customer  was  present,  and  that 
encouraged  him  to  look  and  see  who  it  was ;  and  the  in- 
stant his  gray  eyes  fell  on  me,  he  uttered  a  grunt,  and 
exclaimed, — 

"  Well,  I'm  d — d  if  you  ain't  here." 

"  This  is  as  good  a  place  as  another,"  I  replied,  assuming 
all  the  coolness  that  I  could  command.  "  Give  me  another 
pot  of  ale,  and  let  it  be  better  than  the  last." 

The  Pet  looked  at  me  in  the  same  manner  that  he  would 
have  looked  at  an  opponent  in  the  prize-ring.  I  returned 
the  look  as  well  as  I  was  able. 

"  Look  a-here,  you  young  cove,'*  the  Pet  cried,  in  a  sullen 
tone  ;  "  what  in  the  devil  do  you  mean  by  comin'  round  here 
arter  the  way  you  treated  me  last  night  ?  " 

"  This  is  a  public  saloon,  and  I  have  a  right  to  sit  here  as 
long  as  I  pay  my  bills,"  I  answered,  in  a  slow,  deliberate 
tone. 

The  Pet  pricked  up  his  ears  at  the  word  "  pay." 

"  Of*  course,  lad,  you  has  the  right  to  eat,  drink,  and  be 
merry  here  as  long  as  you  has  the  spondulics ;  but,  for  all 
that,  you  served  me  a  mean  trick  last  night.  It's  your  skull 
I  should  crush  for  it." 

*'  Bah  !  Talk  such  nonsense  to  the  marines.  My  head  is 
safe  enough.     I  have  a  pair  of  arms  that  can  look  after  it." 

Now  I  was  uttering  words  which  were  intended  for  effect. 
This  I  knew ;  but  the  giant  was  not  so  well  informed.  He 
thought  that  I  must  possess  an  immense  amount  of  science  to 
talk  so  strongly ;  and  thinking  as  he  did,  he  cooled  down, 
rind  assumed  a  friendly  tone. 


THE   RED   LION.  97 

"  Grive  the  lad  a  pot  of  the  best,  Jenny,  mj  lass ;  and  if 
ae  wants  to  stand  a  treat,  I'll  drink  with  him." 

I  saw  Jenny's  eyes  raised  for  a  moment,  as  though 
she  would  warn  me  against  such  a  course ;  but  the  devil 
prompted  me  to  be  obstinate  just  at  that  moment;  so  I 
answered, — 

"  Come  on,  old  fellow.  You  shall  drink  with  me  until  we 
are  full,  and  unable  to  come  to  time.  A  full  quart  of  ale  for 
the  Pet." 

"x\.nd  bring  it  in  the  spare  parlor,  lass,"  cried  Sykes.  "I 
wait  to  speak  with  you  in  private." 

I  slapped  the  Pet  on  his  broad  back,  and  followed  him  to 
his  private  room. 

We  took  our  seats  facing  each  other,  and  then  Miss  Jenny 
brought  in  the  beer,  and  without  a  word  or  a  look  for  me, 
left  the  room. 

"  Come,"  cried  the  giant,  after  he  had  fastened  the  door 
which  led  into  the  saloon,  "  let's  be  jolly  and  sociable.  Pm 
a  man  what  likes  my  hours  of  freedom  from  all  care,  when 
I  can  mix  with  my  customers,  and  call  myself  one  of  'em. 
Your  good  'ealth,  sir.  Here's  to  our  better  acquaintance 
and  mutual  advantage.  If  you  wants  advice,  come  to  the 
Pet ;  for,  although  I  say  it,  Sam  Sykes  is  not  the  man  to 
steer  wild  in  behalf  of  a  friend.  When  you  is  in  trouble, 
come  to  me,  and  I'll  treat  yer  jist  like  a  father.  If  yer  can't 
come,  jist  send  us  word,  and  I'll  come  to  yer,  and  go  bail 
for  yer."  And  then,  as  though  he  had  said  too  much,  he 
added,  "  Of  course,  I  mean  that  I'll  get  bail  for  yer,  if  yer 
has  anything  to  put  down  as  security.  You  wouldn't  ax  a 
man  to  do  it  without ;  now,  would  yer  ? " 

I  nodded  a  negative,  and  the  Pet  continued :  "  I  know  a 
great  maty  secrets,  and  I'm  not  the  man  to  betray  *em.  Not 
one  has  I  peached ;  and  the  traps  might  tear  me  into  ten 
thousand  inch  pieces,  and  I  wouldn't  blab.  That's  me.  I'm 
a  safe  adviser  for  young  men,  I've  seen  so  much  of  the  world 
You  is  from  Sydney  ? " 

He  asked  the  question  suddenly,  as  though  to  surprise  me 
into  a  confession  ;  but  I  was  not  to  be  taken  that  way  hy 


98  THE   BUSHRANGEIS. 

such  a  thick-headed  clown  ;  so  I  answered,  '*  Bo  I  look  like 
a  Sydney  njan  ? " 

*'  Then  you  is  from  Ballarat,  by ; "  and  the  giant 

struck  his  fist  upon  the  table,  and  looked  a  little  fierce. 

"  You  think  so  ?"  I  asked,  and  smiled. 

"  Where  in  h — 1  did  you^come  from,  then  ? " 

The  Pet  glared  at  me  in  an  angry  manner,  and  didn't  seem 
to  like  me  as  well  as  he  did  a  few  minutes  before  the  conver- 
Eaiion  occurred. 

*'  There  is  one  subject  I  can  talk  about  with  you,"  I  said, 
at  last. 

*'  Well,  let's  hear  it,"  growled  the  Pet,  who  still  thought 
me  a  burglar  in  the  disguise  of  a  sailor. 

"Your  daughter." 

The  Pet  glanced  at  me  in  a  hasty  manner,  as  though 
doubtful  whether  to  be  angry  or  pleased  ;  but,  after  a  mo- 
ment's thought,  he  concluded  that  it  would  be  much  better 
to  look  satisfied. 

"  Well,  what  of  the  lass  ? "  he  asked. 

"  She  is  very  beautiful." 

"  So  many  men  have  said  before  you." 

*'  Was  the  mother  as  handsome  as  Miss  Jenny  ?  " 

To  my  surprise,  the  Pet  turned  towards  me  in  a  fierce 
manner,  and  raised  his  ponderous  fist  in  a  threatening 
attitude. 

"D — n  you,  what  do  you  mean?"  he  cried,  in  a  fierce 
tone.  *'  What  right  has  you  to  talk  about  the  mother  of  the 
lass  ? " 

*'  Keep  cool,  my  strong-armed  friend,"  I  said,  in  a  quiet 
toce.  "  No  offence  was  intended.  I  but  asked  out  of 
curiosity.'*' 

"  Well,  don't  you  show  too  much  of  it  round  here,  'cos  it 
won't  pay ;  now  I  warn  you." 

"Very  well,"  I  said,  rising,  "I  will  visit  some  other 
saloon,  and  spend  my  money  where  I  can  be  treated  in  a 
more  civil  manner." 

T'Ija  Pet  suddenly  changed  his  course,  and  became  quite 
tiumDie. 


THE  BED  LION.  99 

"  Don't  you  go,  lad,"  he  said.  "  You  11  find  this  tlio  best 
house  in  town,  and  I'm  one  of  the  most  good-natured  feller? 
in  Melbourne.  Come,  take  a  seat,  and  we'll  have  more 
beer." 

I  pretended  to  be  appeased  by  this  argument,  and  once 
more  sat  down ;  and  as  I  did  so,  the  Pet  laid  his  huge  hand 
on  my  shoulder,  and  said,  "  Then  you  likes  the  looks  of  my 
little  lass,  do  you  ? " 

"  She  is  a  clipper,'*  I  replied,  in  nautical  language,  *'  and 
the  handsomest  one  that  I  ever  saw." 

"And  you  has  taken  a  fancy  to  her,  has  you,  lad  ?  " 

"  She  is  very  beautiful,"  I  replied,  in  an  evasive  tone. 

The  Pet  looked  reflective  for  a  few  moments.  "  You 
know,  lad,"  —  and  he  spoke  in  a  slow,  deliberate  tone,  — 
*'  that,  the  cove  what  raises  his  eyes  to  the  lass  must  pos- 
sess the  dosh  to  take  care  of  her.  Come  to  me  with  five 
thousand  pounds,  and  then  we'll  talk  the  niatter  over. 
*'  Five  thousand  pounds  is  a  big  sum,  lad,  hut  ye  can  make 
it  if  ye  is  lucky  and  smart.  There  is  the  gold  mines,  and 
if  ye  don't  like  them,  there's  other  mines  what  pays.  Dia- 
mond mines  pays  well  sometimes ; "  and  as  the  old  chap 
uttered  the  words,  he  stared  full  into  my  face,  and  winked 
with  both  of  his  gray  eyes,  in  a  manner  calculated  to  lead 
one  to  suspect  that  he  knew  something  of  importance. 

"  Ah  !  *'  I  replied,  "  do  you  know  where  there  is  a  diamonc' 
mine.     It  must  be  valuable." 

"  Get  out  with  you,"  he  cried,  and  poked  his  finger  in  my 
ribs.  "  You  is  the  lad  for  the  diamonds.  Who  knows  but 
you  and  the  lasg  might  jine  if  the  swag  was  disposec^  of  in 
a  quiet  way  ?     Eh,  lad,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  are  talking  about,"  I  replied. 
*'  You  must  speak  plainer." 

"  Why,  d — n  your  eyes,  does  you  pretend  to  say  that  you 
don't  know  what  has  become  of  the  diamonds  Doland  and 
Thrasher  prigged  from  the  government  house  ?  Come,  own 
up,  'cos  you  has  nothin'  to  fear  from  me. 

I  pretended  to  be  surprised,  and  the  Pet  grew  enrage  J  a/ 
what  he  considered  my  obstinacy. 


100  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  I  knows  all  about  t,  and  I  knows  all  about  you,"  the 
Pet  continued,  dashing  his  fist  upon  the  table.  I  glanced 
towards  the  door. 

"  You  don't  leave  this  room  till  I  is  ready  to  let  you  go,'* 
the  Pet  cried.  "  Po  you  think  I'll  stand  any  of  your  non- 
sense ?  I  is  goin'  to  know  what  you  done  with  them  'ere 
diamonds.  I  gives  you  fair  warnin'.  Don't  you  go  for  to 
get  me  mad.  Now,  then,  tell  me  what  you  and  your  oronies 
done  with  the  jewels  ?" 

"  Why  do  you  think  I  know  of  the  jewels  ? " 

"  0,  thunder  and  lightnin' !  don't  bother  me  with  such 
talk.  Answer  me  at  once,  or  PU  crack  your  bones  as  though 
they  were  egg-shells." 

Perhaps  I  looked  a  little  incredulous,  for  the  man  one? 
more  rapped  the  table,  and  uttered  a  volley  of  oaths. 

"  No  Sydney  thief  can  deceive  me,"  he  cried.  "  Pm  up 
to  your  tricks,  and  knows  all  about  'em.  Tell  me  wha^  you 
aid  with  the  diamonds." 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  any  of  your  business  where  they  are  ? " 
I  asked,  in  a  quiet  tone  of  impudence,  which  I  repented  a 
moFient  afterwards. 

With  an  oath  and  a  roar  the  Pet  threw  himself  upon  me. 
Su  sudden  and  quick  was  the  movement,  that  I  did  not  have 
time  to  a^oid  the  onset.  I  went  down  before  it  like  a  straw 
bbfore  the  blast  of  a  hurricane.  Of  course  I  struggled,  for 
i*.  was  but  natural  that  I  should,  but  I  could  do  nothing  ef- 
fectual. The  Pet  held  me  down  with  a  grasp  that  could  not 
^^  broken  ;  and  even  while  he  did  so,  the  wretch  growled  out 
•'Tords  of  denunciation  and  reproach. 

"  You  chaff  me,  will  you  ? "  and  here  the  rascal  gave  me  a 
rfhake  that  made  my  teeth  chatter.  "  You  don't  know  me 
yet,  I  guess.     D — n  your  impudence,  what  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  You  scoundrel,"  I  managed  to  gasp,  "  let  me  up,  or  the 
^orse  for  you." 

But  instead  of  complying  with  my  demands,  the  Pet  gave 
me  another  shake,  and  hissed  out,  "  Tell  me  of  the  diamonds 
or  I'll  strangle  you.     Where  are  they,  and  who  has  them  ? " 

I  don't  know  whether  the  gianl  suspected  my  intention  of 


THE  DESPERATE  STBUGGIJI.  ,    lOi 

letting  a  hole  through  his  body  or  not^but  ^tMs'l'  do  know ; 
he  held  my  arms  so  tight  that  I  codld  not  accocaplinh  413^  ob^ 
ject ;  so  there  was  only  one  course  to  pursue,  and  that  was  to 
remain  quiet,  and  submit  to  the  pressure,  or  else  utter  a  few 
startling  yells,  and  see  if  I  could  not  attract  attention  and  a 
rescue. 

While  I  was  thinking  of  these  things  the  Pet  released  mj 
throat  for  the  purpose  of  asking  a  question.  It  was  the  cso 
that  he  was  most  interested  in. 

•'  Where's  them  diamonds  ?  "  he  demanded. 

Instead  of  replying,  I  uttered  a  shrill  yell  for  help,  and  I 
had  just  time  to  do  so,  when  the  Pet's  hands  were  at  work 
in  a  fierce  manner  about  my  throat. 

"  You  would,  would  you,  d — n  you  !  "  cried  the  Pet ;  and 
he  raised  my  head  and  dashed  it  to  the  floor,  causing  me  to 
see  more  stars  than  agreeable  at  that  time  of  the  day ;  but 
such  treatment  only  made  me  more  determined,  and  with  a 
sudden  wrench  I  freed  one  of  my  hands,  and  struck  the  huge 
bully  full  in  the  face  ;  and  so  well  directed  was  the  blow  that 
a  few  drops  of  blood  tricked  down  his  cheek  from  the  di- 
rection of  the  right  eye. 

For  a  moment  the  Pet  was  surprised  at  the  suddenness 
of  the  attack.  Still  he  held  me  with  a  giant's  strength,  and 
hissed  out,  "  You  can  use  yer  mawlers,  can  yer,  little  ban- 
tam ?     Well,  so  can  I ;  and  let's  see  how  you  likes  'em." 

He  drew  back  his  huge  fist,  like  a  twelve-pound  shot,  and 
aimed  a  blow  at  my  face ;  but  I  dodged  just  in  time,  and 
the  bunch  of  bones  landed  on  the  hard-wood  ^oor  with  a 
crash  that  threatened  damage  to  the  boards  or  the  man'a 
hand,  whichever  were  the  strongest. 

"  0,"  roared  the  briHe ;  and  up  went  his  fist  to  hia 
mouth,  and  he  licked  the  blood  from  the  barked  skin,  like 
the  beast  that  he  was. 

"0,  cuss  yer !  that's  yer  game,  is  it  ?  Yer  think  that 
yer  has  done  somethin'  smart,  don't  yer  ?  " 

"  Now  or  never,"  I  thought ,   and  with  a  mighty  effort  I 
attempted  to  turn  the  man,  and  at  the  same  time  I  utter  3d 
t  second  shrill  yell  for  help. 
8 


IQ2  THE   BUSHKANGEKS. 

*'  Blast  yer  foT  a  "gcreecliing  cove  ! "  cried  the  Pet,  in  a 
Geti^^  iom^^y'iiid  once  more  his  hand  clutched  my  windpipe 

But  thei'e  was  a  gencle  rap  at  the  door,  and  the  Pet 
relaxed  his  hold  a  little  to  listen. 

*'  O,  dad,"  cried  Jenny,  *'  do  stop  your  fighting,  and  let 
the  poor  young  man  out.     If  you  don't  I'll  give  an  alarm." 

"  Away  with  you,  girl,"  returned  the  father,  fiercely. 
**  Leave  me  to  settle  the  matter." 

"  I  won't,"  returned  the  independent  girl.  *'  Let  him  alone; 
Of  the  traps  will  be  here  and  jerk  you  off.    Be  warned  in  time." 

"  If  I  come  out  there  to  yer,"  said  the  Pet  in  a  threat- 
ening tone,  "  ye'U  remember  me  for  a  while." 

"  The  diamonds,  lad.  Tell  me  of  the  diamonds,  and  I'll 
let  you  up,"  he  hissed. 

I  did  not  reply,  but  made  a  desperate  struggle,  and  was 
unsuccessful.  I  felt  that  my  tongue  was  protruding  from  my 
mouth,  that  my  eyes  were  starting  from  their  sockets,  that 
my  breath  was  nearly  gone,  and  that  in  a  few  seconds  I 
should  be  unconscious  ;  but  just  as  I  was  losing  all  sense  and 
feeling  I  heard  a  terrible  crash,  the  door  flew  open,  and  in 
rushed  half  a  dozen  men.  I  heard  a  savage  blow  struck, 
and  was  instantly  relieved  of  the  pressure  of  the  giant's 
body ;  and  then  I  lost  all  consciousness. 


CHAPTER  Xin. 

THE  BESCUE. THE    ACCUSATION    OF    MISS   JENNY.  —  THE 

DESPATCH. 

I  KNEW  that  I  was  relieved  of  the  weight  of  the  giant  in  a 
sudden  manner ;  but  that  was  all  that  I  did  know  until  I 
regained  my  senses,  and  the  instant  that  I  opened  my  eyes 
I  heard  a  familiar  voice  exclaim,  — 

"  He's  aU  right  now,  gol  darn  it.  I  was  afeard  that  the 
big  cuss  had  killed  him.  If  he  had,  I'd  taken  the  law  in  m^ 
hands,  and  cut  the  brute  into  inch  pieces." 


THE  RESCUE.  lOd 

'*  Is3  that  you,  Hez  ? "  I  asked,  for  I  found  that  1  waa 
lying  in  some  one's  arms. 

"  Wal,  T  shouldn't  wonder  if  it  was.  How  do  you  feel 
now  ?  Are  you  all  right  ?  Does  your  rrind  work  well  ? 
Here,  take  a  drop  of  this  'ere.  It  will  do  you  a  powerful 
sight  of  good."  And  he  held  a  glass  containing  some  brandy 
to  my  lips. 

"  We  warn't  none  too  soon  for  you,"  said  Hez,  when  he 
9aw  that  I  was  capable  of  standing  and  moving  without 
assistance.  "  That  big  cuss  was  jist  squeezing  the  life  out 
of  you.     What  did  you  come  here  for,  at  any  rate  ? " 

I  did  not  answer,  and  there  was  no  occasion  for  me  to  ; 
for  at  this  moment  Murden  entered  the  room  in  all  the  pride 
of  blue  coat  and  brass  buttons  and  insignia  of  rank.  His 
first  look  was  towards  the  humbled  Pet,  and  the  instant 
the  giant  man  noticed  his  glance,  he  said, — 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Commissioner.  I've  news  for 
you,  sir — important  news.  You'll  thank  me  when  you  hear  it." 

I  was  about  to  speak,  but  Murden  made  me  a  rapid  sign 
to  remain  quiet  and  listen. 

"  Speak  your  mind.     What  have  you  got  to  say  ?  " 

"  You  remember,  Mr.  Commissioner,  that  some  diamonds 
were  nabbed  at  the  government  house,  a  few  weeks  ago  ?  " 

"Yes;  what  of  them?" 

*'  I  know  who  has  'em." 

"  You  do  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  was  trying  to  nab  the  man  when  you  comes 
in.     I  will  appear  agin  him  if  you  will  let  me  up." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  this  man  "  —  and  he  pointed  to 
jne  —  "  is  the  one  who  stole  the  diamonds  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  I've  been  on  his  track  for  a  week.  He's  a 
Sydney  tbief.  I  know  him  well.  He's  told  me  all  his  plans. 
There's  more  of  'em  here."  ^ 

"  So  you  thought  that  you  would  jnake  a  capture  for  the 
benefit  of  the  police." 

"  Yes,  sir.     I  allers  played  in  their  hands,  and  I  allers  will." 

Murden  made  a  sign,  and  some  officers  raised  the  Pet  and 
led  him  o5[  te  jail,  to  the  intense  consternation  of  the  Mud- 


104  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

Laners,  who  didn't  understand  it,  and  wondered  who  had 
got  hold  of  the  police  bellows. 

I  passed  into  the  saloon,  and  saw  Jenny  behind  the  bar, 
attempting  to  preserve  her  coolness  and  calmness ;  but  the 
effort  was  not  successful,  and  when  she  saw  me  her  tears 
would  flow  in  spite  of  her  efforts  to  prevent  them. 

"You  would  not  take  notice  of  my  warning,"  she  said,  in 
a  bitter  tone,  "  and  now  you  see  the  result.  You  nearly 
lost  your  life ;  you  are  in  the  hands  of  the  police,  and  my 
father  is  a  prisoner  for  an  assault  on  you.  What  more 
would  you  have  ?  " 

"And  yet  I  made  all  this  venture  for  your  sake,"  I 
remarked. 

*'  Don't  talk  such  nonsense.  I'm  not  to  be  gassed  in  that 
way.  Go  to  your  prison  and  leave  me.  Let  me  never  see 
you  again." 

While  we  were  speaking  Murden  came  towards  us.  "  Ar- 
rest that  woman  as  an  accomplice,"  he  said,  and  pointed  to 
Jenny. 

The  young  girl  dried  her  tears  in  an  instant,  and  held  out 
her  hands. 

"  Put  the  irons  on  me  if  you  will,"  she  said  ;  "I  am  not 
afeard  of  a  prison  ;  I  am  innocent,  and  can  suffer." 

"  And  suffer  you  shall.  You  knew  of  the  attempt  on  this 
man's  life  ;  "  and  Murden  pointed  to  me. 

"  I  did,  and  tried  to  prevent  it." 

"  It's  false  !  "  roared  Murden,  who  cared  no  more  for  the 
girl's  beauty  than  he  did  for  her  feelings. 

"It's  true,"  I  said,  in  a  calm  tone.  "The  young  ladj 
did  warn  me  of  the  danger  that  I  incurred  in  remaining 
here  ;  but  I  was  heedless  of  her  advice,  and  the  consequence*? 
be  upon  my  own  head." 

"  Well,  she  must  be  made  an  example  of,  at  any  rate," 
replied  Murden,  who  wanted  to  signalize  his  reappointment 
to  power,  and  was  loath  to  yield  an  inch. 

The  men  looked  to  the  commissioner  for  instructions  ;  and 
ihat  gentleman  bit  his  lips,  and  was  about  to  utter  a  harslj 
•ommand,  when  I  signalized  for  a  moment's  conversation. 


THE   ACCUSATION  OF  MISS  JEN»  1 .  104 

*'  What  is  it  ? "  he  asked,  impatiently.  "  It's  something 
about  that  woman,  I  know.  Now,  let  me  dispose  of  her. 
I  want  to  get  her  out  of  the  way.  You're  in  love  with  her 
don't  deny  it.  I  discovered  it  last  night.  She'll  ruin  you, 
unless  the  whole  thing  is  nipped  in  the  bud.  Be  guided  by 
me,  will  you  ? " 

"  No,  I  won't,  not  in  this  respect,"  I  replied,  very  bluntly 
**  I'm  not  in  lo^e  with  the  girl."  (Here  Murden  smiled  in 
an  incredulou-  manner.)  "  Of  course,  if  you  insist  upon 
dragging  the  girl  to  the  station  house,  I  cannot  interfere ; 
but,  remember,  it  is  against  my  wish,  and  you 'know  that  —  " 

"  0,  d — n  !  don't  talk  in  that  style,"  cried  Murden,  in  an 
impatient  tone.  "  You  know  that  what  I  am  doing,  and 
what  I  have  done,  is  for  the  best.  She  is  a  dangerous  girl. 
She  has  wrecked  many  a  man  through  that  face  of  hers." 

"  You  think  that  my  judgment  is  good  on  some  points, 
don't  you  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Yes  ;  better  than  mine." 

"  Then  believe  me  when  I  state  that  the  girl  is  not  as  bad 
as  you  think." 

"  And  you  want  her  released  ? " 

*'  Yes,  most  assuredly." 

Murden  turned  towards  his  men,  and  held  up  his  hand. 

"  Release  that  girl ;  she  is  no  longer  a  prisoner." 

The  ofl&cers  fell  back,  and  left  Jenny  behind  the  bar.  She 
raised  her  eyes  for  a  moment  to  my  face,  and  gave  me  one 
look ;  but  it  was  such  a  contemptuous  glance,  that  I  did  not 
desire  a  repetition  of  it.  I  did  not  understand  it.  What 
could  she  mean  ?  Was  she  not  grateful  for  what  I  had 
done  ?  There  was  a  mistake  somewhere.  I  moved  towards 
Jenny  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  a  word  with  her.  She 
knew  that  I  was  standing  by  her  side,  and  yet  she  would  not 
turn  her  well-shaped,  haughty  head,  so  that  the  light  of  her 
dark-blue  eyes  should  fail  upon  me. 

"  I  thank  you,"  I  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "  for  the  interest 
that  you  have  taken  in  me.  How  shall  I  reward  you  for 
*rhat  you  have  done  }  " 

'*  By  never  speaking  with  me  again,"  she  said,  in  a  crustj 


106  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

tone.     "  I  know  you  now,  and  hate  myself  for  yarning  with 
you." 

"  Yarning,"  I  asked ;  "  what  is  that  ? " 

"  Talking  with  you ;  "  and  the  young  lady  made  a  gestur*^ 
of  impatience. 

"0!" 

"  0  !  indeed  ; "  and  the  girl  turned  upon  me  like  a  tiger. 
"  lb  is  well  enough  for  you  to  '  0,'  and  look  grave  and 
pretty ;  but  I  tell  you  that  I  despise  you,  hate  you,  loathe 
the  sight  of  your  face.     Now  do  you  understand  me  ? " 

"  I  do  not,"  I  answered,  quite  calm  and  unconcerned ;  but 
admiring  the  girl  more  and  more  as  she  gave  me  evidence 
of  her  fierce,  proud  disposition. 

"  When  you  wish  to  play  a  part  you  are  not  so  stupid ; ' 
and  the  girl  looked  at  me  with  such  a  cold  expression  of 
contempt,  that  if  I  had  not  admired  her  very  much  I  should 
have  wilted  under  it. 

"  I  cannot  comprehend  your  meaning.  Tell  me  in  plain 
words  what  I  have  been  guilty  of." 

For  a  moment  she  looked  me  fuU  in  the  face  without 
speaking.  Then  she  said,  in  a  cold,  contemptuous  tone, 
**  A  spy  of  the  police  department  need  not  expect  a  civil 
answer  from  me.     Look  at  me." 

There  was  no  need  for  such  advice.  I  had  been  looking 
at  her  quite  intently.  She  continued  :  "  You  see  me  here 
behind  a  bar  serving  out  liquors  to  all  sorts  of  customers,  in 
one  of  the  most  detested  quarters  of  Melbourne.  It  is  a 
miserable  employment  for  a  young  girl ;  but,  low  as  my  posi- 
tion is,  and  much  as  I  despise  it,  I  would  not  exchange  it  for 
yours." 

I  smiled  at  her  vehemence,  and  that  smile  exasperated 
her. 

**  Laugh  at  me  if  you  will ;  but  a  spy  is  something  not  to 
be  laughed  at  —  he  is  to  be  despised,  spit  upon,  detested  !  " 

"  If  I  pledge  you  my  word  that  I  am  not  a  spy,  will  you 
aelieve  me  ? " 

"No." 

'*  If  Mr.  Murden  pledges  his  word  will  you  believe  him  ?  " 


THE  DESPATCH.  10? 

"  No." 

I  would  have  made  another  attempt  tc  roAson  witl  her  if 
she  had  been  like  other  women ;  but,  as  &he  was  like  steel  in 
firmness,  I  turned  away,  and  joined  Murder. 

'*  You  make  no  heading  with  that  woman,"  he  said. 

"  No." 

"  I  knew  you  would  not.  Other  men  have  tried,  and 
failed.  But  we  must  go  to  the  station,  and  prefer  charges 
against  the  Pet.  It  shall  go  hard  with  him  for  his  murder- 
ous assault." 

Jenny,  as  we  were  leaving  the  house,  called  to  the  com- 
missioner, and  Murden  stopped  to  hear  what  she  had 
to  say.     It  took  but  a  moment. 

"  Now,"  said  Murden,  as  we  entered  the  street,  "  tell  mo 
what  mad  freak  sent  you  to  the  Red  Lion  at  this  hour  of  the 
day?" 

"  Curiosity,"  I  answered. 

"  Which  nearly  cost  you  your  life,"  was  the  dry  rejoinder. 

*'  But  how  did  it  happen  that  you  arrived  at  such  an  op- 
portune moment  ?  " 

"  It  was  owing  to  the  sagacity  of  your  good  genius,  Hez. 
He  saw  you  put  on  your  disguise,  and  thought  that  you  in. 
tended  to  look  at  Jenny's  face  once  more ;  so,  instead"  of 
taking  the  nap  that  he  contemplated,  he  followed  you  to  the 
Eed  Lion,  saw  you  enter  and  call  for  beer,  and  then  he  left, 
for  he  felt  that  you  was  soft  on  the  girl.  While  he  was 
wandering  around  he  met  me,  and  told  me  what  had  hap- 
pened." 

"  But  one  question  more.  Did  Jenny  give  you  any  in- 
r)rmation  regarding  my  condition  ?  " 

"Yes;  she  said,  '  A  young  man  is  in  the  room;  he  has 
quarrelled  with  my  father,  and  I  wish  you  would  separate 
tliem.' " 

"  Was  she  quite  cool  about  it  ?  " 
'  "  Like  a  cake  of  ice  in  July." 

"  Manifested  no  concern  ?  " 

"  Not  the  slightest." 

I  sighed,  and  did  not  ask  another  question. 


I  OS  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"Humph,"  growled  Murden,  "that  woman's  eyas  have 
burned  a  hole  in  your  heart,  and  that  is  misfortune  number 
one,  since  3^ou  landed." 

'*  And  what  do  you  call  misfortune  number  two  ?  " 

"To  marry  her,"  was  the  blunt  rejoinder;  and  without 
another  word  we  entered  the  station  house  whore  the  Pet 
was  confined. 

We  found  Maurice  in  charge.  He  received  us  with 
marked  pleasure,  for  he  had  already  heard  of  Murden's  re- 
appointment, and  was  glad  of  it.  We  entered  our  complaint 
against  the  Pet,  and  then  paid  him  a  visit,  for  he  was  con- 
fined in  a  cell,  and  very  repentant  he  appeared  as  we  looked 
at  him  through  the  grates  of  his  den. 

"I  hopes,  gents,  that  you  didn't  think  I  was  in  earnest 
when  I  put  my  fingers  to  that  young  feller's  throat.  It  was 
only  a  little  fun.  I  wanted  to  know  a  certain  somethin',  and 
took  that  'ere  means  of  gettin'  it.  PU  make  it  all  right  with 
the  young  feller,  and  won't  mind  a  pound  or  two  if  he'll  settle." 

"  You're  a  precious  rogue,  Sykes,"  said  Murden.  "  Pve 
known  that  fact  for  a  long  time,  and  longed  for  a  chance  to 
lay  hands  on  you.     Escape  is  not  so  easy  at  the  present." 

The  Pet  uttered  a  howl  of  protestations  respecting  his  in- 
nocence, but  no  notice  was  taken  of  them.  We  returned 
home,  and,  when  we  arrived  there,  found  an  oflicial-look- 
ing  document  from  the  Home  Department,  in  which  was 
stated  the  fact  that  a  gang  of  bushrangers  was  on  the  road 
from  Melbourne  to  Bendego,  and  Commissioner  Murden  was 
ordered  to  take  such  force  as  he  thought  proper,  and  cap- 
ture or  disperse  the  rascals. 

"  Thisi  is  marked  for  immediate  service,"  Murden  said, 
turning  to  me. 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so." 

"  I  shall  start  at  daylight  to-morrow  morning.  Will  you 
remain  here  or  go  with  me  .^ " 

"  I  go  with  you.  We  shall  not  be  absent  more  than  a 
week.     In  the  mean  time  we  have  nothing  else  to  do." 

"  Crood  !  I  will  make  you  and  Hez  aids,  and  order  horses. 
Hez,  will  you  go  ? " 


THE  FIRST  HUNT  FOR  BUSHRANGERS.  109 

"Count  me  in,"  returned  the  genius;  and  oflf  went  Mur- 
den  to  detail  a  certain  number  of  men  and  horses  an  d  give 
orders  for  the  expedition,  and  when  he  returned  his  guests 
began  to  arrive. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE    FIRST     HUNT     FOR    BUSHRANGERS.  WEBBER   AND    HIS 

FAMILY.  THE    SLEEPING    TRAMP. 

No  allusion  was  made  during  the  dinner  to  the  proposed 
expedition.  The  meal  passed  off  in  good  shape.  The 
wines  were  excellent,  the  food  cooked  to  perfection,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  Tom,  who  had  threatened  to  roast  the 
head  of  the  kitchen  unless  care  was  bestowed  on  the  meat, 
and  speeches  and  toasts  as  complimentary  to  the  host  as 
could  be  expected ;  and  at  two  o'clock  the  company  left  the 
house,  and  those  who  remained  in  peace  and  quietness  re- 
tired to  bed  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  little  sleep. 

At  daylight  we  were  aroused  by  Tom.  We  dressed  for  a 
long  and  tiresome  journey.  Our  costume  was  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  bush  and  horseback  riding.  We  wore  leggings 
of  buckskin,  which  reached  to  the  knee.  They  were  light, 
yet  strong  enough  to  resist  the  thorns  and  brambles,  and 
were  also  useful  guards  against  the  sudden  attack  of  snakes, 
which  must  always  be  guarded  against  when  travelling  in  the 
bush.  We  wore  loose-fitting  blouses  of  stout  cloth,  of  a 
subdued  color.  Each  blouse  contained  numerous  pockets, 
which  1  had  found  extremely  useful  during  my  first  visit. 
We  had  broad  felt  hats,  and  around  our  waists  were  stout 
leather  belts,  and  attached  to  these  were  revolvers  and 
bowie-knives,  while  we  intended  to  strap  to  our  backs  two 
light  but  powerful  repeating-rifles. 

All  ready  for  our  journey,  and  with  our  rifles  in  our  bauds, 
we  entered  the  dining-room  only  to  find  Murden  radiant  with 
gilt  buttons  and  spurs. 


110  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Do  you  wear  your  uniform  ? "  I  asked,  astonished  at  hi» 
»?ant  of  prudence. 

-*  Certainly.     Why  should  I  not  ?  " 

"I  supposed  that  common  sense  would  teL  you  that  if  a 
mark  is  to  be  fired  at,  a  lot  of  gilt  buttons  enables  a  man  t^ 
obtain  a  good  aim." 

"  Just  as  you  say,"  returned  the  commissioner.  "  Tom, 
'ay  out  my  rough-and-tumble  suit.  I  think  that  I  shall  feel 
better  in  it." 

After  breakfast,  Murden  retired  for  a  moment,  and  came 
back  shorn  of  his  finery. 

"  Tom  goes  with  us,"  said  Murden,  as  we  rose  from  the 
table  ;  and  that  fire-loving  young  man  grinned  at  the  thought 
of  displaying  his  talent  in  such  a  wide  field  as  that  which  we 
were  about  to  enter  upon. 

We  found  four  perfect  bay  horses  at  the  door,  as  good  as 
the  police  force  could  muster,  for  they  had  been  selected  by 
Murden  with  special  reference  to  speed  and  endurance.  We 
each  selected  one,  and  mounting,  galloped  through  the 
street.  ^. 

"  Strike  for  Webber's,"  cried  Murden,  when  he  saw  that  I 
was  about  to  turn  in  the  direction  of  the  station  house. 

Webber's  was  a  sort  of  stopping  house,  ten  miles  from 
the  city. 

"  Where  are  the  men  ?  "  I  asked,  as  we  turned  a  corner 
and  dashed  towards  the  country. 

"  At  Webber's.  I  didn't  intend  that  it  should  be  known 
all  over  town  that  a  troop  of  mounted  men  had  gone  in  pur- 
suit of  bushrangers.  If  you  are  unsuccessful  in  your  search, 
men  swear  at  you  ;  if  you  are  successful,  the  fact  will  soon 
be  known,  and  you  gain  all  the  credit  that  you  deserve." 

*'  So  you  sent  them  out  last  night  ? " 

"  Yes,  they  left  the  city  one  by  one,  so  as  to  attract  no 
attention.     We  shall  find  twelve  good  n^.en  at  Webber's." 

By  this  time  we  had  reached  the  suburbs  of  the  city, 
where  a  few  half-naked  natives  were  hovering  over  a  smoky 
fire,  —  for  the  morning  was  cool,  —  endeavoring  to  warm  a  lit- 
tle offal  or  some  refuse  matter  for  breakfast,  while  near  them 


WEBBER  AND  HIS  FAMILY.  Ill 

and  on  each  side  of  tli3  road  were  rather  pretty  villas  occu 
pied  by  the  merchants  of  Melbourne. 

Past  all  this  we  galloped,  and  struck  the  dusty  road  which 
led  to  Webber's.  Luckily  for  us,  a  heavy  dew  had  fallen 
during  the  night,  and  the  sun  had  not  yet  risen  to  drink  it  up  ; 
consequently  we  were  enabled  to  escape  the  clouds  of  pulver- 
ized stones,  blinding  all  who  used  the  roads  on  a  windy  day. 

But  at  last  we  left  all  traces  of  the  town  behind,  and  only 
at  rare  intervals  came  to  a  house.  "We  passed  through 
bushes  which  lined  the  road  on  each  side,  behind  which  a 
gang  of  resolute  bushrangers  could  have  wiped  our  party 
out  of  existence,  and  we  should  never  have  known  what  did 
it  —  through  forests,  on  the  branches  of  which  chattering 
parrots  and  paroquets  with  gorgeous  plumage  mocked  us, 
or  else  grumbled  at  the  want  of  breakfast  and  the  difficulty 
they  would  encounter  in  finding  just  such  food  as  suited 
them — on  to  the  cross  roads,  one  of  which  led  to  Balla- 
rat  and  the  other  to  Bendego ;  and  then  we  saw  Webber's 
house,  and  in  front  of  it  were  several  heavy,  lumbering 
wagons,  some  of  them  drawn  by  t#ules,  and  others  by 
horses  and  oxen,  while  in  the  road,  where  the  dust  was 
knee-deep,  were  half  a  dozen  little  Webbers,  clothed  with 
scant  garments,  rolling  up  halls  of  dust  by  the  aid  of  an 
ox  horn  filled  with  water.  The  little  imps  were  having  a 
jovial  time,  and  were  about  the  color  of  the  dust  in  which 
they  were  playing,  regardless  of  the  mules,  horses,  or  oxen 
stamping  around  them  in  every  direction,  while  close  to  the 
children  rolled  several  kangaroo  dogs,  long-legged  fellows, 
with  lean  bodies  like  a  greyhound,  and  the  only  species 
capable  of  keeping  in  sight  of  that  bounding,  singular  ani- 
mal, the  kangaroo,  peculiar  to  Australia,  and  no  other 
country. 

Opposite  the  house,  which  was  one  story  and  a  half  high, 
were  half  a  dozen  natives,  who  were  nearly  naked,  basking 
in  the  sun,  which  had  just  begun  to  impart  a  little  warmth 
to  the  atmosphere.  The  natives  raised  their  little  sharp 
black  eyes  as  we  passed  them,  scanned  us  for  a  moment,  and 
then  dozed  like  well-fed  dogs,  too  lazy  to  stir. 


112  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

We  made  our  way  through  the  crowd,  carefully  avoiding 
the  tow-headed  children,  who  rewarded  us  for  our  forbear- 
ance by  hurling  handfuls  of  dust  and  mud-balls  at  our  heads. 
and  at  last  drew  up  to  the  front  door,  where  some  dozen 
men,  teamsters  and  miners,  were  seated,  drinking  gin  and 
water,  ale  and  beer,  and  smoking  clay  pipes. 

Just  at  this  moment,  a  fat,  light-haired  man,  whom  I 
jreciDgnized  as  Webber,  looking  no  older  than  when  I  last 
Baw  him,  came  out  of  the  bar-room.  He  waddled  towards 
us,  pipe  in  mouth,  and  in  a  calm,  Teutonic  manner,  welcomed 
us  to  the  house. 

*'  I's  glad  to  see  yer,  Mishter  Murden,  but  I  don't  knows 
what  brings  yer  here  at  dis  time.  I's  glad  to  know  dat  you 
is  got  back  to  yer  old  place,  'cos  de  bushrangers  eats  my 
scheeps  like  ter  tyfil,  and  I  no  help  myself.  I's  much  glad 
to  see  you,  and  I  will  have  some  breakfast  for  you  right  off 
immediately." 

"  We  don't  need  it,  Webber.  Besides,  we  don't  relish 
your  cookery.  You  serve  too  many  ashes  with  your 
mutton." 

"  By  tam,  but  dat  is  true,"  and  Webber  scratched  hia 
head,  as  he  continued,  "  But  de  beer  is  good,  Mishter  Mur- 
den, and  you  vill  hab  some  of , dat,  or  perhaps  you  vill  take 
coffee.     We  always  has  good  coffee." 

We  were  willing  to  take  his  word  for  it,  and  followed  him 
into  the  best  room,  on  the  walls  of  which  were  hung  scenes 
in  lager  beer  saloons  in  Glermany,  done  in  cheap  style,  yet 
faithful  enough  in  their  representations  to  cause  many  a 
Teutonic  heart  to  sigh  for  faderland,  and  wish  for  home  and 
lager,  with  an  unlimited  supply  of  cheese  and  sausage. 

On  the  floor  was  a  rough-looking  fellow,  with  long,  black 
hair,  which  fell  in  tangled  masses  about  his  shoulders  and 
neck.  Ilis  slouched  hat  was  pulled  over  his  eyes,  and  his 
great  muscular  arms  were  crossed  over  his  breast ;  but  they 
did  not  conceal  the  hilt  of  a  knife,  —  a  long  and  ugly-look- 
ing weapon,  —  and  a  pistol. 

"  Whom  have  you  there,  Webber  ? "  asked  Murden,  and 
the  commissioner  pointed  to  the  sleeper 


THE  SLEEPING  TRAMP.  113 

'*  Ah,  dat  is  a  veller  what  is  goin'  to  de  mines.  He  stop 
here  dis  mornin',  and  he  eat  and  drinks  gin  like  de  tyfil ;  and 
arter  he  eats  'ira,  he  comes  in  and  sleeps,  I  s'pose.  He  pays 
for  all  he  gets,  and  dat's  all  I  know  of  'im." 

"  I  must  see  his  face,"  returned  Murden.  "  He  looks  like 
a  tough  case." 

"  Don't  you  touch  'im,"  cried  Webber  ;  '*  he  is  von  savage, 
and  care  for  no  one.  Let  'im  sleep,  and  den  ven  he  vakes 
up  he  clears  out,  and  says  nothin'  to  any  von.  He  pays  me, 
I  s'pose,  for  his  bed." 

But  Murden  was  not  put  off  by  that  excuse.  He  stoo])ed 
down,  and  attempted  to  remove  the  hat  from  the  man's  face  ; 
but  the  fellow  turned,  uttered  a  deep  growl,  and  struck  at 
the  commissioner,  at  the  same  time,  saying,  — 

"  Let  me  sleep,  you  Dutch  hog,  or  I  won't  pay  you  for  the 
bed ; "  and  then  the  man  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes  more 
firmly,  and  turned  over  and  went  to  sleep,  or  seemed  to,  for 
he  snored  like  a  man  who  needed  rest. 

"Don't  disturb  him,"  pleaded  the  G-erman.  '*  He  no 
pays  me  if  you  does.  He  calls  it  a  bed,  and  I  make  him 
pay  all  de  same  as  though  it  vas.  Ah  !  here,  comes 
de  coffee,  and  it  smells  bery  nice.  I  makes  good  coffee 
here." 

"  Now,  Webber,"  said  Murden,  as  we  tasted  the  coffee, 
after  seeing  that  no  flies  were  in  it,  "  tell  me  some  reliable 
news  of  the  bushrangers." 

I  looked  at  the  commissioner,  and  pointed  to  ihe  man  on 
the  floor ;  but  Murden  laughed,  and  said,  — 

*'  0,  he's  too  drunk  and  sleepy  to  know  what's  going  on. 
No  fear  of  him." 

I  was  not  satisfied,  but  still  I  had  no  more  to  say. 

"  Veil,  Mishter  Murden,  to  tell  you  de  truth,  I  don't  knoTT 
much  about  'em  ;  but  sometimes  dey  takes  a  scheep  or  two, 
and  den  dey  leaves  me  for  some  von  else,  and  I  is  glad  of  it. 
I  vish  dat  dey  would  pay  me  for  it,  'cos  I's  a  poor  man,  and 
can't  afford  to  lose  'em." 

"  Then  you  don't  know  of  a  gang  near  here  ? " 

"Not  shust  at  dis  time.     I  heard  dat  dere  vas  som3  al 


114  THE  iJUSHRANGERS. 

Sanderson's  farm,  or  de  udder  side  of  de  river;  hut  dat  vaa 

a  veek  or  two  ago." 

*'  And  what  do  natives  say  ?      Do  they  bring  any  word  ?  " 
"  Not  lately,  I  dink.     My  stockmen  no  say  dat  dey  see 

'em." 

Just  at  that  moment  I  happened  to  look  at  the  sleeping 

man,  and  was  somewhat  astonished  to  see  a  pair  of  wild, 

ferocious  eyes  glancing  at  me  from  beneath  the  slouched  hat. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

A    SUSPICIOUS    SLEEPER.  THE    MEETING    IN   THE    BUSH. 

If  I  could  have  had  a  seco'nd  glance  at  the  man's  face,  I 
could  have  judged  whether  he  was  insane,  or  rational  and 
wicked ;  but  the  fellow  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  and 
appeared  to  sleep  as  deeply  as  when  we  first  entered  the 
room.  At  first  I  thought  of  calling  Murden's  attention  to 
the  man  and  his  suspicious  movements  ;  but  I  recollected 
that  the  commissioner  would  probably  laugh  at  me  for  my 
trouble  ;  so  I  drank  my  coffee  in  silence,  and  listened  to  the 
conversation  between  Murden  and  Webber. 

"Yes,  Mr.  Murden,"  said  Webber,  in  continuation  of 
some  remark  that  he  had  made,  "  I  should  have  heard  of  it, 
never  fear,  if  der  had  been  many  bushrangers  around  here. 
So  many  people  stop  at  my  house  dat  I  gets  all  de  news. 
Dey  tells  me  ebery  ding  dat  is  goin'  on,  and  if  I  knew  of  a 
Bet  of  d — d  rascals  loafing  round  here,  I  should  tell  you 
about  it  like  smoke." 

"  But  yju  must  have  heard  of  some  bushranger  depreda- 
tions near  here,"  persisted  Murden. 

*'  To  be  sure  I  does.  Some  weeks  I  lose  a  scheep  every 
day  by  a  rascal  who  had  to  eat  mutton  or  starve.  But  dey 
no  come  near  de  house  —  dey  fear  de  traps  too  much  for 
iat.' 


A  SUSPICIOUS  SLEEPER.  115 

*'  And  you  have  not  heard  of  Keeler  and  his  gang  of  bush- 
rangers ? "  asked  Murden. 

'*  Yes,  I  heard  of  dem  last  week.  A  miner  he  say  dat 
Keeler  away  up  near  Bendego,  and  dat  he  rob  ebrey  one  dat 
he  meet.     Dat  all  dat  I  hear  of  him." 

Murden  thought  for  a  moment,  and  Webber  seemed 
anxious  for  the  result  of  his  deliberation. 

"  Why  not  go  and  hunt  'em  ? "  the  G-erman  asked.  "  Dat 
Keder  bad  man-— all  his  gang  bad  men.  Dink  no  more 
of  robbin'  a  Dutchman  dan  dey  would  a  Englishman. 
G-roat  haul  if  you  take  Keeler.  But  he  is  smart,  and  say 
dat  de  tyfil  can't  catch  him,  and  I  begin  to  dink  so." 

"  It  is  singular,"  at  last  Murden  said,  in  a  tone  of  solilo- 
quy. "  I  heard  from  good  authority  that  Keeler  had  been 
seen  near  this  spot,  and  that  he  had  a  camp  on  the  Lodden. 
Tb^  information  must  have  been  false." 

"  Let  us  get  into  the  open  air,"  I  said ;  "  these  flies  will  kill 
mr  with  their  bites  and  stings." 

We  all  moved  from  the  room  ;  but  I  left  it  last,  and  as  I 
crv'^ssed  the  threshold  I  turned  and  glanced  at  the  sleeping 
mp'Ti.  Once  more  I  caught  sight  of  those  baneful  eyes  ;  but 
th^y  were  closed  in  an  instant,  and  I  left  the  room.  Web- 
ber closed  the  door  and  locked  it  after  we  had  passed  out, 
plotting  the  key  into  his  pocket,  and  in  reply  to  my  look  of 
ipterrogation,  said, — 

"  I  do  dat  'cos  de  man  might  go  off  and  no  pay  me. 
We  has  to  look  arter  all  de  coppers,  or  we  be  ruined,  the 
miners  cheat  so  like  de  tyfil." 

While  we  were  lighting  our  pipes,  the  G-erman  asked,  in  a 
careless  way,  - 

"  Shall  you  gu  back  to  de  city,  Mishter  Murden,  or  viU 
you  push  on  for  Bendego  ?  It  is  early  yet,  and  de  heat 
no  come  on.  If  your  horses  fresh,  you  make  ten  miles 
afore  ten." 

**  I  think  we  shall  push  on,"  the  commissioner  answered  ; 
"  but  I  am  not  certain  what  I  shall  do.  I  am  half  inclined 
to  return  to  the  city  —  and  would  if  it  was  not  so  hot." 

I  thought  I  saw  the  faintest  twinkle  of  satisfaction  in  thfl 


116  THE  BirSHRkNGEKS. 

dull,  gray  eyes  of  the  Grerman  when  this  annouQcement  wai« 
made  ;  but  Murd3n  saw  nothing.  He  chatted  with  the  Ger- 
man, asked  after  his  wife,  his  children,  his  cattle,  and  at  last 
left  the  host,  and  strolled  towards  the  place  where  the  police 
force  was  encamped. 

•*  Have  you  full  confidence  in  that  German  ? "  I  asked. 

Murden  stopped  and  looked  at  me,  as  though  surprised  at 
the  question. 

"  Confidence  in  Webber  ? "  he  asked. 

*'  Yes  ;  have  you  confidence  in  his  honesty  and  integrity  ? 
If  I  remember  rightly,  there  were  some  few  suspicions  at- 
tached to  his  name  when  I  first  knew  him ;  and  it  was  even 
said  that  he  had  an  understanding  with  ticket-of- leave 
men." 

"  And  you  still  think  that  Webber  is  on  the  neutral 
order  ? "  asked  Murden,  in  a  musing  tone. 

"  It  looks  so  to  me.  He  may  be  a  true  man,  but  he  does 
not  appear  so  to  me." 

"  Nor  to  me  either,"  replied  the  commissioner  in  a  low 
tone,  as  if  fearful  the  bushes  would  hear  his  remark  and 
repeat  it.  "  I  know  the  man  most  thoroughly,  I  believe ; 
and  while  I  think  he  would  do  most  anything  for  money,  yet 
I  don't  imagine  he  would  dare  to  play  us  false  unless  labor- 
ing under  the  influence  of  bushrangers." 

"  And  you  will  find  that  he  is  in  that  condition  to-day,"  I 
said.  "  The  fellow,  while  talking  with  us,  was  evidently 
desirous  of  keeping  peace  with  a  third  party ;  hence  his  non- 
committal answers." 

"  But  what  third  party  did  he  fear  while  with  us  ? " 

"  Did  you  notice  the  fellow  who  was  lying  on  the  floor  ? " 

**  Yes  ;  sleeping  soundly." 

"  Appearing  to  ;  for  he  was  no  more  asleep  than  you 
were.     He  heard  every  word  that  was  uttered." 

"  0,  no  !  that  can't  be,"  replied  Murden.  "  I  should  have 
noticed  him  if  he  had  been  playing  the  eavesdropper.  I 
have  a  quick  eye,  and  can  see  as  far  as  most  folks." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it ;  but  just  send  one  of  your  meii 
to  tho  hous(3  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  fellow.     Let  him  slip  od 


THE  MEETING   IJ^    THE   BUSH.  H* 

a  miner's  salt,  and  play  the  spy  for  a  few  hours.  Do  this  to 
oblige  me." 

"  0,  anything  for  a  quiet  life  !  "  answered  Murden,  with  a 
shrug  of  his  shoulders.  "  It's  all  nonsense  ;  but  I  will  do 
it  to  satisfy  you  that  I  am  right,  and  that  you  are  wrong." 

By  this  time  we  had  reached  the  camp,  which  was  located 
in  a  grove  so  thickly  studded  with  balsam  trees  that  the 
Bun's  rays  could  not  enter  through  the  branches.  The  police 
officers  were  old  stagers.  Some  of  them  had  shared  with 
me  my  former  campaigns,  and  they  knew  all  the  woods  and 
the  habits  of  the  bushrangers  ;  so  feeling  perfectly  satisfied, 
when  ordered  from  the  city,  that  a  hunt  in  the  bush  was  con- 
templated, they  had  packed  up  their  mosquito  nets,  and  now 
had  them  in  use  ;  for  some  of  the  men  were  sleeping,  covered 
with  the  nets,  and  thus  rendered  impervious  to  the  attacks 
of  the  blustering,  bloodthirsty  mosquitoes,  and  the  inquisi- 
tive gnat  with  its  painful  bite.  Such  of  the  men  as  were  not 
asleep  were  under  their  "  protectors,"  reading  or  smoking ; 
and  among  them  I  was  pleased  to  see  my  old  friend,  Lieu- 
tenant Maurice,  who  did  me  the  honor  of  throwing  off  his 
net,  and  arising  and  shaking  my  hand  in  a  hearty  manner. 

"  This,"  he  said,  "looks  like  business.  Here  we  are  once 
more  on  the  war  path,  and  may  luck  favor  us  ; "  after  which 
remark  he  dove  under  his  "  protector,"  and  appeared  to  be 
quite  contented  with  himself  and  the  world. 

"  I  want  you  for  a  moment,"  said  the  commissioner, 
speaking  to  Maurice ;  and  that  gentleman  at  once  arose 
without  a  sigh,  and  followed  us  to  Mui'den's  headquarters, 
which  was  a  huge  net,  in  the  form  of  a  bell-topped  tent, 
capable  of  accommodating  four  or  five  persons,  and  breaking 
the  legs  of  the  most  adventurous  mosquitoes  that  ever 
walked  over  fine  muslin,  and  butted  their  heads  against  iia 
meshes.  In  the  centre  of  the  tent  was  a  small  table,  made 
for  being  taken  all  to  pieces  in  a  moment's  time ;  and  on 
that  table  were  several  bottles,  some  crackers  and  cheese, 
and  a  box  of  sardines.  All  these  things  were  the  result  of 
Tom's  thoughtfulness,  or  Murden's  discipline,  it  matters 
little  which.     By  a  vigorous  effort  we  drove  the  insects  from 


118  THE    BUSHRANGERS. 

the  front  of  the  tent,  and  then  entered,  and  found  peace  and 
comfort  beneatli  the  heavy  folds  of  muslin. 

"  Come,  let  us  take  a  drink,"  said  the  commissioner. 
*'  This  is  a  dry  country,  and  dryness  is  not  conducive  to 
health.  Here  we  go  !  "  We  emptied  the  glasses,  and  lighted 
our  cigars. 

•'What  is  the  programme?"  asked  Maurice.  "Do  we 
remain  here,  or  make  a  dash  for  Keeler  and  his  gang  ?  " 

"  Ah !  Tell  me  where  Keeler  is,  and  I'll  answer  the  ques- 
tion," Murden  replied. 

"  In  the  first  place,  before  you  discuss  his  whereabouts," 
I  said,  *' just  send  a  man  to  Webber's,  and  let  him  watch 
both  Webber  and  the  fellow  in  the  front  room." 

"  You  still  cling  to  your  idea,"  Murden  said  in  a  bantering 
tone.     "  I  thought  that  you  had  forgotten  it." 

"  No  ;  I  never  forget.     I  claim  your  promise." 

"  And  I  will  keep  it.  Maurice,  put  Sam  in  plain  clothes, 
and  send  him  up  to  Webber's.  Tell  him  to  spot  a  tall,  dark, 
wild-looking  fellow  whom  he  will  find  sleeping  in  the  front 
room.  Find  out  his  business,  where  he  came  from,  and 
where  he  is  going  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  let  him  keep  an  eye 
on  that  Dutchman.     I  want  to  know  if  he  has  a  double  face." 

"  Yes,  sir ; "  and  off  went  Maurice  to  give  Sam  his  in- 
structions. 

The  heat  now  became  oppressive,  and  as  moving  at  that 
time  of  the  day  was  out  of  the  question,  we  just  spread 
blankets  on  the  ground,  stripped  off  some  of  our  clothes, 
and  lay  down,  panting  and  gasping  for  breath.  ^ 

"Hough  weather  this,  for  hunting  bushrangers,"  said 
Murden.  "  We  can  only  move  early  in  the  morning  or  late 
in  the  afternoon.     The  horses  would  melt  under  this  sun.'* 

Then  he  puffed  hard  at  his  cigar,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it 
fell  from  his  mouth,  for  the  man  was  asleep.  Hez  followed 
his  example.  I,  too,  fell  asleep,  and  dreamed  that  a  young 
lady  had  quarrelled  with  me,  and  then  drenched  me  with 
ecalding  water;  and  this  was  so  severe  a  joke  that  I  awoke, 
and  found  that  I  was  bathed  in  perspiration,  and  actually 
steaming. 


WEBBER  AND  HIS   GUEST.  US 

Somehow,  without  thought  or  premeditation,  I  walked  into 
the  woods,  and  soon  found  myself  in  the  rear  of  Webber'? 
house.  The  trees  were  quite  thick  here,  and  the  brush  was 
dense  ;  so  I  was  about  to  return  to  the  headquarters,  when  1 
heard  some  one  tramping  towards  me,  crushing  the  dry 
branches  under  foot,  and  apparently  in  an  impatient  mood. 
,J  dodged  under  a  bush  at  the  foot  of  a  bal/am-tree.  It  waa 
best  w  be  cautious,  for  I  was  some  distance  from  the  com- 
mand, ana  ^^^  force  was  out  on  patrol  duty.  Not  that  I 
really  thought  that  a  bushranger  would  venture  so  near  us  ; 
but  there  was  no  telling  what  might  happen. 

'*  De  tyfil !  we  is  far  enough  now,"  cried  a  voice,  which  1 
recognized  as  Webber's.  "  No  von  can  hear  us  here ;  so 
dere  is  no  use  to  go  furder.  Now  stop  and  talk  as  much  as 
you  vant  to,  and  be  mighty  quick  vith  it,  'cos  I  must  go  back 
to  the  house.     Got  for  damn,  man,  you  vill  ruin  me." 

"  Stop  your  noise,  you  blasted  Dutchman,  and  tell  me 
what  you  think  the  traps  will  do,  or  I'll  roast  you  over  a 
slow  fire." 

I  pulled  one  of  the  bushes  aside  and  looked  out.  I  saw 
that  the  speaker  was  the  black  ruffian  who  had  occupied  the 
floor  in  the  front  room. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WEBBER  AKD  HIS   GUEST. THE  PUBSUIT. THE  ESCAPE.— 

THE    STOLEN    HOESES. 

"  So  help  me  Grot,"  cried  the  G-erman,  in  answer  to  the 
demands  of  the  dark-looking  man,  "I  does  not  know  onn 
ding  vot  the  purlice  does.  You  hears  me  tell  'em  to  go 
home,  or  go  to  Bendego,  'cos  no  bushrangers  here.  I  say 
all  dat  for  you,  and  yet  by  damn  you  still  kill  my  scheeps  and 
lambs,  and  Hose  much  money  by  it." 

"  And  you'll  lose  a  d — d  sight  more  if  you  attempt  t*! 
play  any  of  your  Dutch  games  on  me." 


120  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

*'  So  help  me  Got,"  commenced  Webber ;  but  the  dark-^ 
lookiDg  man  stopped  him. 

"  Avast  with  your  blarney,"  he  said ;  "  I  don't  want  to 
hear  it.  All  that  I  want  to  know  is,  will  you  stick  to  your 
bargain  ? " 

"  Ah,  but  vill  you  stick  to  yours  ? "  demanded  the  Dutch- 
man, with  a  chuckle,  as  though  he  had  caught  the  man  in  a 
trap. 

"None  of  your  d — n  nonsense,"  was  the  q^^ck  reply. 
"I'm  in  no  mood  for  jesting.  There's  ^^o  much  at  stake 
with  a  gang  of  traps  within  a  stone's  throw  of  me.  What 
in  the  devil's  name  prompted  them  to  give  that  cussed  Mur- 
den  a  command  ?     I  thought  that  he  was  shelved  forever." 

"  Veil,  dat  is  more  dan  I  can  tell,  Mishter  Kee — " 

"  Silence,  you  Dutch  hog  !  How  dare  you  pronounce  my 
name  ? " 

*'  Vy,  dare  is  no  one  here,  Mishter  —  " 

Before  Webber  could  finish  the  sentence  the  hands  of  the 
dark-eyed  man  were  on  his  throat,  and  I  saw  the  poor  fellow 
strangle  as  though  the  pressure  was  more  than  was  agreeable. 

"  Didn't  I  warn  you  ?  "  the  fierce  man  cried.  *'  Fool ! 
sourkrout-eater  !  swiller  of  beer  !  didn't  I  tell  you  that  my 
name  was  not  to  be  mentioned  ?  " 

"  Yaw,  I  didn't  dink,"  was  the  reply  ;  and  then,  as  Web- 
ber rubbed  his  throat,  he  continued,  *'  I  vish  dat  de  tyfil  had 
you.  I  shall  fin^  de  tyfil  to  pay  wid  me  by  and  by,  and  den 
vot  shall  I  do  ?  " 

**  Do  as  we  do  —  run  for  it,"  answered  the  dark-looking 
man.  "  But  I  tell  you  that  matters  are  pressing  at  the 
present  time.  Who  is  that  young  fellow  with  the  sharp* 
looking  eyes  ? " 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  sees  him  somewhere  afore." 

"  Does  he  belong  to  the  police  department  ?  " 

"  How  shall  I  tell  ?     He  no  say  dat  he  do." 

"  Well,  d — n  him,  he  acts  as  though  he  did,  for  the  cuss 
kept  his  eye  on  me  all  the  time  he  was  in  the  room.  Did 
he  speak  of  me  ? " 

'•  No,  I  dink  not  " 


IV^EBBER  AND  HIS   GUEST.  121 

*'  Well,  I'll  warrant  you  that  he  whispered  his  thoughts  to 
that  bloody  commissioner.  Blast  them  both  !  what  in  the 
devil's  name  did  they  send  a  force  here  for  ?  Just  as  I 
wanted  to  recruit  my  band  and  make  expenses,  these  police 
officers  come  down  on  me ;  and  if  they  press  me  hard,  what 
am  I  to  do  ? " 

"  Cut  and  run  for  it,"  replied  the  matter-of-fact  German. 

"  If  I  do  have  to,  I'll  make  havoc  among  your  muttons  be- 
fore I  go,"  the  dark-eyed  man  said,  in  a  savage  tone.  "  I 
more  than  half  suspect  that  you  brought  this  cloud  of  pests 
down  on  me  ;  and  if  I  was  certain  of  it,  I'd  make  you  suffer." 

"  So  help  me  Got,  I  no  do  it,"  was  the  answer ;  and  then 
the  parties  moved  towards  the  woods  on  the  right  of  the  house 

When  I  reached  the  camp,  Murden  was  just  stirring,  and 
near  him  stood  the  officer  who  had  been  sent  to  the  farm  for 
the  purpose  of  acting  as  a  detective.  The  officer  made  his 
report. 

"  I  have  looked  after  the  man  you  told  me  to  spot,"  the 
policeman  said,  "  and  I  find  that  he  is  a  dissipated  miner, 
with  money  and  a  taste  for  liquor.  He  drinks  a  good  deal, 
and  tells  of  his  luck  at  Ballarat  and  the  South  Mountain  dig- 
gings. I  think  that  he's  an  ugly  customer  when  in  his  cups, 
Dut  see  nothing  about  him  that  don't  look  square." 

Murden  turned  to  me  with  a  triumphant  look. 

"You  see,"  he  said,  "your  suspicions  were  unfounded." 

"  I  see  nothing  of  the  kind.  K  you  can't  muster  better 
detectives,  you  should  import  a  few  from  Yankee  land. 
Why,  I  have  been  gone  from  the  encampment  but  a  half 
hour,  and  yet  I  have  learned  more  than  your  whole  squad 
have  done  since  they  reached  this  spot." 

*'  Gammon ! " 

"  Is  it  ?  Well,  then,  let  me  tell  you  that  I've  seen  Keeler, 
beatrd  him  talk,  and  know  that  he  is  near  us  at  the  present 
moment." 

'' Honest,  or  joking?"  and  Murden  brightened  up  in  an 
instant. 

"I  never  joke  on  such  serious  matters  with  the  head  of 
the  Melbourne  police  department." 


122  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Excuse  me,  Jack ;  I  know  you  don't.  I  thouglt  that  you 
were  running  a  saw  on  me.  Come,  like  a  good-natured  fel 
low  that  you  are,  tell  me  all  that  you  "know." 

**  Willingly  ;  but  you  must  listen  to  me  with  patience." 

**  Certainly.     Go  on." 

"  Well,  then,  in  the  first  place,  your  innocent  miner  who 
slept  so  sweetly  on  the  floor,  was  no  other  than  the  redoubt- 
able Keeler." 

Murden  sprang  to  his  feet  and  shouted,  **  To  horse,  men, 
to  horse  !  and  lose  not  a  moment !  " 

The  men  within  the  sound  of  his  voice  sprang  to  their  feet, 
and  were  about  to  rush  to  their  animals,  when  I  said,  in  a 
calm  tone,  "  Countermand  that  order  immediately." 

"  What  for  ? " 

*'  No  matter  at  the  present  time.  I'll  give  you  reasons,  if 
you  want  them,  by  and  by." 

"  Saddle,  and  wait  for  further  orders,"  the  commissioner 
said,  and  then  turned  to  me  for  further  ^revelations. 

"  How  do  you  know  it  was  Keeler  that  you  saw  ?  Where 
did  you  see  him,  and  why  didn't  you  give  the  alarm  ? "  , 

"  Don't  ask  too  many  questions  at  once.  Patience  for  a 
moment ;  "  and  then  I  informed  my  fi'iend  what  I  had  seen 
and  heard.  '■ 

"  That  d — d  Dutchman  is  in  with  them,  after  all.  I  have 
half  a  mind  to  arrest  him." 

"  But  now  we  must  turn  our  attention  to  Keeler.  I'll 
mount  my  men,  and  dash  down  to  the  house.  We  can  take 
Kim  by  surprise." 

"  I  doubt  it,  if  that  is  the  way  you  intend  to  capture  him. 
The  fellow  is  in  the  bush,  awaiting  information  of  your 
movements.  Send  the  men  out  on  foot,  so  that  they  can 
clo€e  in  around  the  house." 

"By  Jove,  your  plan  is  the  best.  I'U  adopt  it;"  and 
thrusting  a  revolver  into  his  belt,  he  left  the  tent,  and  called 
his  men  around  him,  and  told  them  what  he  expected  them 
feo  do,  and  how  to  do  it. 

"  If  you  see  a  dark-looking  man,"  the  commissioner  con- 


THE   PURSUIT.  123 

tiaued,  "just  tell  him  to  stop.     If  he  refuses,  shoot  him  if 
you  can." 

The  officers  vanished  like  ghosts.  Some  disappeared  1)0- 
hind  bushes,  and  others  dodged  behind  trees,  and  in  a  few 
seconds,  only  Hez,  Murden,  and  myself,  were  to  be  seen. 
We  walked  slowly  towards  the  house  in  hopes  of  meeting 
Keeler  there,  and  arresting  him  before  the  police  came  up  ; 
but  when  we  reached  the  building  we  saw  Webber  sitting  in 
front  of  his  door,  smoking  his  long  clay  pipe.  He  got  upon 
his  feet  when  he  saw  us,  and  then  I  noticed  that  he  had  been 
patronizing  his  own  bar. 

*'  Webber,"  asked  the  commissioner,  "  where  is  the  fellow 
whom  we  saw  lying  on  the  front-room  floor  ? " 

"  Gone  to  the  tyfil,  I  hopes,"  was  the  answer. 

"  In  what  direction  did  he  go  ? "  asked  Murden. 

"  Yaw  !  what  you  ax  dat  for  ? "  the  German  cried,  his  dul] 
gray  eyes  assuming,  for  a  moment,  a  cunning  look. 

"  Tell  me  where  that  man  has  gone.  I  have  business 
with  him." 

"  Den  you  ain't  a  lucky  man,  and  de  business  von't  do  veil. 
Oe  man  is  a  d — d  rascal,  and  he  eat  my  scheeps,  and  say  dat 
he  von't.  I  don't  know  vich  vay  he  goes  ;  I  leave  'im  in  de 
bush." 

Webber  waved  his  hand  in  the  direction  of  the  bush  back 
of  his  house,  and  then  closed  his  eyes  and  nodded  his  wooden 
nead ;  and  as  we  found  that  no  further  information  coidd  be 
obtained  of  the  man,  we  let  him  sleep  until  our  forces  closed 
in  upon  the  house,  which  was  speedily.  They  came  from  all 
directions,  and  met  at  the  rallying  point  without  having  a 
word  of  information  to  impart.  No  one  had  seen  Keeler  or 
heard  of  him,  although  they  had  noted  footprints  in  the  bush, 
but  had  lost  them,  owing  to  the  dry  nature  of  the  soil. 

"  Search  all  the  buildings,"  cried  Murden.  "  Don't  leave 
a  barrel  unexamined." 

"  But  leave  all  de  liquor  in  dem,"  muttered  Webber,  who 
made  an  attempt  to  open  his  eyes,  and  found  that  the  effort 
vvas  a  failure. 

The  officers  departed  to  perform  their  duty.     They  were 


(24  THE  BUSHKAJXGERS. 

gone  for  half  in  hour,  and  returned  unsuccessful.  As  soon 
as  the  men  had  made  their  reports,  Murden  and  I  consulted 
together  as  to  the  next  move. 

"  Take  my  advice,"  I  said.  "  Put  one  of  the  natives  oc 
his  trail.  Let  the  man  be  followed  for  miles,  if  necessary, 
and  report  to  us  at  the  South  Ford  on  the  Lodden.  We 
can  be  there  to-morrow  morning,  and  meet  the  fellow." 

"I'll  do  it,"  Murden  answered,  and  was  just  starting  off 
to  find  a  native  tracker,  a  man  that  could  keep  on  the  trail 
of  a  cat,  if  such  a  thing  were  necessary,  when  one  of  oui 
men  rushed  towards  the  house  with  consternation  pictured  on 
his  English  face. 

"  What  in  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  asked  the 
commissioner. 

*'  Our  horses,"  gasped  the  officer.  "  Four  of  'em 
gone,  sir." 

"  Gone  !     Where  ?  " 

"  Don't  know,  sir.  While  we  were  in  the  bush  they  left ; 
saddles  and  bridles  gone  with  'em." 

I  laid  a  hand  on  Murden's  shoulder,  and  whispered,  "  Not 
a  word  of  this  to  any  one.  Keep  cool,  and  signalize  to  the 
men  not  to  speak  of  the  matter." 

He  saw  that  the  advice  was  good,  and  followed  it.  By  a 
peculiar  movement  of  his  hands  the  signal  for  silence  was 
given,  and  then  we  strode  towards  the  place  where  the  horses 
were  tetliered.  As  I  apprehended,  the  rascal  had  taken  the 
best  animals  that  he  could  find,  and  among  them  were  tha 
horses  which  Mui'den,  Hez,  Tom,  and  I  rode,  the  flower  of 
the  flock,  the  very  animals  that  I  had  felt  so  proud  of  when 
we  left  the  city  that  morning.  There  was  no  longer  a  ques- 
tion about  the  heat.  We  thought  of  it,  but  determined  to 
ignore  it.  We  threw  the  saddles  on  the  horses,  got  a  lean 
native  to  examine  the  trail  and  follow  it  on  the  run,  and  then 
we  dashed  through  the  bush,  determined  to  avenge  the 
wrong  which  we  had  received.  On  we  went,  over  a  prairie 
where  the  soil  was  hot  and  dry,  and  through  a  dark  wood, 
where  it  was  necessary  to  sway  from  side  to  side  to  avoid 
«he  branches  ;  and  it  was  while  we  were  in  the  wood  that  my 


LOST   IN    THE   WOODS  125 

i 

»addle-girth  broke,  and  I  was  compelled  to  haul  up  for 
repairs. 

**  Shall  we  wait  for  you  ?  "  asked  Murden. 

"  No ;  I'll  join  you  in  five  minutes.;  "  and  with  this  assur. 
4nce  my  companions  dashed  on. 

The  girth  required  more  repairing  than  I  anticipated.  Be- 
fore I  was  ready  to  trust  to  it,  half  an  hour  had  elapsed,  and 
then  I  noticed  that  the  sun  was  low,  and  that  not  a  sound, 
except  that  made  by  insects,  was  to  be  heard  in  the  woods. 
I  was  alone. 


CHAPTER  XVn. 

LOST    IN    THE    WOODS. MY    HORSE's    DEATH. NIGHT    AND 

MOSQUITOS.  AN    UNWELCOME    BEDFELLOW. 

I  PATTED  the  animal,  and  then  mounting,  rode  quickly  in 
the  direction  which  my  companions  had  taken,  determine'] 
to  overtake  them  as  soon  as  possible.  After  I  had  ridden 
for  five  miles,  the  bush  growing  more  and  more  dense,  I  was 
compelled  to  stop  and  look  around  me,  having  almost  arrived 
at  the  conclusion  that  I  had  missed  the  trail,  and  that  I  was 
in  the  midst  of  an  Australian  forest,  with  the  sun  only  an 
hour  high,  and  the  prospect  of  passing  the  night  in  the  com- 
pany of  my  horse  and  eight  or  ten  billions  of  mosquitos, 
without  counting  other  insects,  of  lesser  note,  but  blood- 
thirsty propensities.  I  had  eaten  nothing  since  morning. 
My  horse  was  tired,  for  his  head  drooped  and  his  eyes  were 
closed,  and  the  sweat  poured  from  his  sides  in  streams.  I 
dismounted,  and  as  I  did  so  I  looked  down  and  saw  at  once 
what  was  the  matter  with  the  poor  beast.  One  of  its  hind 
legs  was  swollen  in  a  terrible  manner,  so  much  so  that  the 
limb  was  almost  powerless  for  locomotion.  I  removed  the 
saddle,  took  ofi"  the  bridle,  and  the  animal  made  an  efi"ort  to 
nibble  a  bush,  but  gave  it  up,  and  turned  its  sorrowful,  dark, 
expressive  eyes  upon  me,  as  though  asking  an  explanatiou 


i26  THE   BUSHRA.NGERS.  . 

for  its  loss  of  appetite  and  all  energy.  I  knew  that  it  would 
not  add  to  my  peace  or  security  to  have  the  horse  die  neai 
my  camping-ground,  for  the  dead  body  would  attract  myriads 
of  insects,  and  perhaps  dozens  of  wild  dogs  and  other  ani- 
mals. I  spoke  a  kind  word  to  the  poor  brute,  and  then 
walked  off  some  distance,  the  herse  following  me  with  slow 
and  painful  steps.  The  leg,  which  had  felt  a  serpent's 
teeth,  was  swollen  so  much  that  the  joints  did  not  work,  and 
the  foot  did  not  touch  the  ground.  It  had  increased  so 
much  in  size  that  I  expected  the  skin  would  burst  with  every 
movement.  I  walked  until  the  animal  staggered  at  every 
step,  and  looked  so  piteous  for  help  that  I  stopped,  and  was 
just  about  to  pat  the  brute's  neck,  when  it  fell  over ;  then 
with  one  convulsive  struggle,  the  horses'  life  was  gone ;  and 
hardly  had  the  breath  left  the  body  before  a  cloud  of  insects 
settled  upon  it,  eager  and  fierce  for  a  feast. 

I  stood  and  watched  them  for  a  short  time,  but  the  dark- 
ness warned  me  that  I  had  better  retrace  my  steps  to  the 
spot  where  I  had  left  the  saddle,  and  with  a  terrible  fear 
that  a  spotted  snake  would  seize  upon  me  as  the  next  vic- 
tim. To  prevent  such  a  fate,  a  careful  avoidance  of  dry 
Umbs  and  rotten  logs  was  made  on  my  way  back  to  the 
place  where  the  saddle  was  deposited. 

But  I  did  not  meet  with  any  mishap.  I  saw  nothing  more 
formidable  than  insects ;  and  they  punched  away  at  me  until 
I  was  forced  to  cover  my  face  and  hands  with  stuff  which  I 
had  brought  with  me  from  Melbourne.  In  a  few  minutes  it 
was  so  dark  that  I  could  not  see  my  hand  before  my  eyes. 
The  wild  dogs  had  already  found  the  body  of  the  horse,  and 
were  barking  themselves  hoarse  in  their  struggles  for  a  i  up- 
per.  I  lay  down  at  last,  put  my  head  on  the  saddle,  and 
placed  my  revolver  and  bowie-knife  so  that  I  could  use  them 
at  a  second's  notice. 

I  tried  to  "sleep,  but  the  barking  of  the  wild  dogs  prevent- 
ed me  ;  so  I  just  lighted  my  pipe,  and  puffed  away  most 
vigorously,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  mosquitos,  which 
aiade  frantic  efforts  to  reach  me  through  my  protectors. 
But  while  I  was  smoking,  napping,   and  swearings  just  a 


AN  UNWELCOME  BEDFELLOW.  12*? 

little,  I  suddenly,  during  a  momentary  lull,  heard  =5ometliing 
rustle  near  the  bushes,  as  though  a  creeping  body  was  pass- 
ing over  dry  branches,  and  moving  in  my  direction.  Sud- 
denly it  ceased  its  motions,  and  seemed  to  listen,  as  though 
waiting  for  definite  information  respecting  my  whereabouts. 
For  ten  minutes  there  was  a  profound  silence,  with  the 
exception  of  the  quarrel  of  the  wild  dogs,  which  were  mak- 
ing a  feast  over  the  remains  of  the  dead  horse. 

I  began  to  doze,  but  was  awakened  in  an  instant  by  a 
rustling  sound.  This  time  it  was  nearer  than  before  ;  so  I 
hurled  a  dry  stick  in  the  direction  of  the  noise,  and  the 
reptile  remained  quiet  for  a  moment,  and  then  recommenced 
its  movements.  I  lighted  a  match  and  set  fire  to  a  dry 
branch  which  I  had  provided  before  dark  to  act  as  a  torch. 
With  a  revolver  irt  one  hand  and  the  torch  in  the  other,  T 
started  off  to  search  for  the  reptile  that  dared  to  disturb  my 
meditations.  I  looked  under  the  bushes  and  in  the  bushes, 
but  not  the  least  sign  of  a  snake  could  I  see  ;  and  after  a 
search  which  lasted  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  I  put  out  my  torch, 
and  went  back  to  my  hard  bed,  settled  my  head  comfortably, 
and  was  just  about  to  doze  off,  when  the  rustle  of  my  old 
enemy  once  more  startled  me,  and  I  found  myself  sitting 
upright,  listening  with  all  my  might  for  further  indications 
of  an  assault.  Once  more  I  lighted  my  torch  and  surveyed 
the  premises.  Ten  minutes  did  I  spend  in  trying  to  find  the 
animal,  and  was  unsuccessful. 

"  Blast  the  snake,"  I  muttered ;  "  I  don't  believe  there's 
one  within  a  mile  of  me.     I  won't  search  again." 

I  stamped  the  fire  out  of  the  torch,  and  lay  down ;  but 
hardly  had  my  head  touched  the  pillow,  when  rustle,  rustle, 
went  the  leaves  close  to  my  head.  I  remained  quiet  and 
listened. 

Once  more  my  torch  was  brought  into  requisition,  and 
ranother  hunt  ensued,  but  with  the  same  want  of  success. 
All  was  quiet.  There  was  no  more  rustling  of  leaves  and 
crackling  of  dry  branches.  The  snake  had  left  me  for  other 
quarters,  as  I  supposed ;  so  sleep  sealed  my  eyelids,  and  I 
dreamed  of  grotesque  and  horrible  things,  and  at  last  awa- 


128  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

kened  with  a  start,  and  to  the  fact  that  I  was  quite  chilly,  and 
that  on  my  heart,  apparently  curled  up  for  warmth,  and 
nestled  as  near  the  flesh  as  possible,  was  a  living  thing  —  the 
snake  that  had  troubled  me  before  I  fell  asleep.  I  did  not 
dare  to  stir,  for  if  I  did  I  feared  that  I  should  receive  a 
deadly  wound  ;  and  if  the  customer  on  my  breast  was  a  spot- 
ted snake,  a  speedy  death  was  certain,  even  if  the  skin  was 
but  grazed.  It  might  be  some  other  kind  of  snake ;  but  it 
was  not  likely  it  was  a  harmless  one,  for  but  few  reptiles  that 
inhabit  the  dense  woods  of  Australia  are  innocent  of  poison. 

I  listened  carefully  and  attentively.  The  reptile  was 
sleeping,  or  else  curled  up  on  the  watch,  prepared  to  strike 
at  the  first  demonstration  of  hostilities.  I  made  a  first  ven- 
ture as  a  test,  and  to  see  what  the  result  would  be.  I 
moved  one  arm  in  the  direction  of  the  torch  which  I  had 
used  in  the  early  portion  of  the  night.  No  corresponding 
movement  on  the  part  of  the  snake  took  place.  This  em- 
boldened me  to  proceed  and  make  another  attempt.  I  thrust 
my  right  hand  into  a  pocket  where  I  kept  my  matches,  and 
succeeded  in  obtaining  several  without  disturbing  the  reptile. 
I  thought  that  this  was  wonderful  good  fortune,  and  I  grew 
bolder  in  consequence ;  but  I  was  suddenly  checked  in  my 
congratulations,  for  the  reptile  appeared  to  have  been  dis- 
turbed. It  seemed  to  have  raised  its  head,  listened  for  a 
moment,  and  then  curled  down  in  its  old  place,  and  once 
more  gone  to  sleep. 

After  this  demonstration  I  did  not  move  for  a  long  time , 
although  while  I  lay  upon  my  back,  and  stared  at  the  pitchy 
darkness,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  see  Jenny's  face  encour- 
aging me  to  proceed,  and  save  myself  from  the  poisonous 
fang^  of  the  monster.  I  waited  until  I  thought  that  my  visitor 
was  quiet,  and  then  I  carefully  lighted  a  match,  and  set 
fire  to  the  resinous  wood.  Still  there  was  no  movement  on 
the  part  of  the  snake.  The  flame  burned  quite  feebly  at 
first,  and  did  not  give  me  light  enough  to  see  the  color  of 
my  strange  bedfellow ;  but  it  gathered  headway  at  last,  and 
burned  into  a  bright  flame,  that  threw  its  rays  for  many  roda 
into    the    dark   forest.      But  there  was  no   motion   on   the 


AN   UNWELCOME  BEDFELLOW.  129 

pari  of  the  snake.  Tt  .emained  curled  up,  as  quiet  as  before 
the  fire  wa?  J^^n^^l^d,  and  this  gave  me  hope.  I  drew  mj 
L  -.-snife,  and  prepared  to  give  a  mighty  chop,  in  case  the 
reptile  made  a  spring ;  and  then,  with  a  faint  prayer  for 
sucoess,  I  slowly  raised  my  head,  and  took  a  survey  of  the 
morster.  My  movement  seemed  to  disturb  the  sleeping 
•animal ;  for  as  .  I  raised  my  head  and  moved  my  >»"dy,  a 
Bimilar  movement  on  the  part  of  the  reptile  took  place  ;  and 
when  I  was  able  to  rest  on  my  left  elbow,  and  look  at  the 
place  where  the  snake  was  nestled,  I  encouLtered  a  glitter- 
ing pair  of  eyes  and  an  open  mouth. 

"  Now  or  never  ! "  I  shouted,  and  let  my  knife  descend 
upon  the  head  of  the  reptile.  It  severed  it  at  a  blow,  and 
the  body,  with  a  convulsive  wiggle,  tumbled  from  my  breast 
to  the  ground. 

As  soon  as  I  had  severed  the  head  from  the  body  of  the 
reptile  that  had  made  a  bed  of  my  breast,  and  nearly  caused 
my  dark  hair  to  turn  white  from  the  effect  of  fear,  I  sprang 
to  my  feet,  and  for  a  moment  contemplated  the  bloody  work ; 
and  then  all  thoughts  of  danger  gave  place  to  merriment, 
and  I  laughed  loud  and  long  at  the  thought  of  what  had 
happened,  and  could  hardly  realize  that  I  had  been  suffering 
from  the  most  intense  fear  for  nearly  an  hour,  as  well  as  I 
could  calculate  the  time.  I  think  if  any  one  had  been  within 
hearing  of  my  voice,  I  should  have  been  pronounced  mad, 
and  for  a  moment  I  feared  that  such  might  be  the  case  ;  but 
when  I  raised  my  torch,  and  saw  the  wiggling,  squirming 
body  ^f  a  poor  harmless  forest  lizard,  minus  its  head,  instead 
of  a  lepulsive  spotted  snake,  I  knew  I  was  sane,  and  that 
my  eyis  did  not  deceive  me. 

The  forest  lizard  of  Australia  is  a  harmless,  playful  ani- 
mal, ab^ut  ten  inches  long,  and  weighs  nearly  a  pound  when 
full  grotn.  It  often  seeks  the  company  of  human  beings  ; 
and,  if  rt^imolested  and  petted,  will  lie  on  a  man's  breast, 
and  protect  him,  in  a  measure,  from  the  bites  of  flies  and 
other  inserts,  and  will  often  give  warning  of  the  presence 
of  a  snake!  and  even  fight  one,  if  all  means  fail  to  awaken 


130  THE  BUSHKANQERS. 

Wliile  I  was  regretting  the  deat\»  of  the  lizard,  othei 
thoughts  entered  my  mind.  I  was  hungry,  o^d  at  my  feet 
was  meat  more  delicate  and  juicy  than  venison,  ruox^  cramev 
than  duck,  and  more  palatable  than  chicken.  Egad  :  i 
would  have  a  feast,  and  without  delay.  Fire  and  dry  wood 
were  at  hand,  and  it  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  to  dress 
my  prize.  A  few  minutes'  time  was  sufficient  to  strip  off  the 
skin  of  my  prize,  and  then  I  thrust  a  stick  through  its  body, 
and  roasted  it  to  perfection ;  and  even  while  I  was  thus 
employed,  I  was  continually  glancing  around  to  see  if  I  could 
not  find  a  second  victim  worthy  to  be  despatched  for  the 
purpose  of  appeasing  a  hungry  man's  appetite  ;  but  no  other 
lizard  ventured  near  me.  I  looked  at  my  watch,  and  found 
that  it  was  nearly  two  o'clock. 

Throwing  my  rifle  over  my  shoulder,  I  started  on  the  trail, 
or  the  one  by  which  I  had  entered  the  forest.  I  followed  it 
for  an  hour  or  more,  and  then  it  grew  indistinct,  and  at  last 
I  lost  it  entirely,  and  found  myself  wandering  around,  with 
no  more  idea  how  to  find  the  way  out  than  a  child.  I 
descended  valleys,  climbed  hills,  all  covered  with  brush  and 
trees  ;  and  at  last,  just  about  an  hour  before  sundown,  tired, 
thirsty,  and  hungry,  I  left  the  woods,  and  entered  a  rich 
valley,  through  which  a  small  stream  ran ;  but  there  was 
no  sign  of  life  near  the  water,  not  even  a  sheep  greeting 
me  with  its  honest  "  bah."  I  paused,  and  looked  around 
for  some  sign  of  human  habitation.  I  could  see  nothing. 
Not  even  a  stockman's  hut  met  my  gaze.  On  each  sida  of 
me  were  mountains,  studded  with  white  patches,  which  I 
knew  were  of  a  quartz  nature ;  and  I  wondered  if  I  hid  not 
stumbled  upon  a  mine,  such  as  would  test  the  value  of  ([uartz- 
crushing  machines,  and  make  Hez's  heart  dance  witl:  joy. 


A  NIGHV  ON   THE   MOUNTAIN.  131 


CHAPTER  XVm. 

i    IQGHT    ON    THE    MOUNTAIN. A    STRANGE    MEETING,— 

THR    CAVE. 

As  I  entered  the  valley,  I  was  too  much  pleased  to  com- 
plain of  the  solitude  which  reigned  supreme  in  that  district, 
I  was  too  thirsty  to  find  fault  with  the  inhabitants  of  Victoria 
for  not  improving  the  advantages  which  such  a  spot  offered ; 
for  after  I  had  quenched  my  thirst,  I  looked  around,  and 
surveyed  the  valley  in  which  I  found  myself.  It  was  lying  be- 
tween two  high  hills,  or  mountains,  as  they  would  be  called  in 
this  country,  with  rugged  sides,  with  here  and  there  a  stunted 
tree,  looking  as  though  struck  by  lightning,  and  hit  quite 
hard ;  and  along  the  head-lands,  the  points  most  exposed  to 
the  storms,  could  be  seen  heavy  masses  of  white  rock,  which 
the  rains  had  left  bare,  and  which  the  lightnings  of  heaven 
could  not  destroy,  fair  as  was  the  mark.  Where  I  was,  I 
had  not  the  remotest  idea.  I  might  be  miles  and  miles  from 
human  habitation,  and  yet  a  stockman  might  reside  within 
the  sound  of  my  voice.  "  At  any  rate,"  I  thought,  "  it  is 
better  to  be  here  than  in  the  forest.  I  can  see  the  sun,  can 
obtain  a  drink  of  fresh  water,  and  if  no  other  course  is  left 
for  me,  I  can  easily  follow  the  stream,  for  it  must  flow  into 
tha  Lodden." 

As  I  finished  these  reflections,  I  looked  around,  and* 
thought  I  should  have  time  to  ascend  the  mountain  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream ;  and  from  the  summit  I  hoped 
to  be  enabled  to  survey  the  country,  and  shape  my  course  for 
the  next  day.  But  as  I  was  searching  for  a  fording-place, 
I  saw  several  dark  forms  glide  under  the  shadow  of  the 
banks.  I  had  a  hook  and  line  in  my  haversack,  but  no  bait. 
I  tried  the  virtues  of  a  white  rag,  but  the  fish,  which  seemed 
to  be  a  species  of  trout,  and  far  from  shy,  did  not  bite  at  it. 
I  drew  out  my  line,  removed  the  rag,  and  then  commenced 
tearing  up  the  sod  near  the  water,   and  was  rewarded  hj 


132  'fHE  BUSHRANGEKS. 

finding  half  a  dozen  angle-worms.  I  put  one  on  the  hook» 
threw  in  my  line,  and  almost  as  soon  as  it  had  touched  the 
water,  a  splendid  speckled  brown  and  gold  looking  fellow, 
made  a  jump  for  it.  A  swift  turn  of  the  line,  a  splash,  a 
struggle,  and  the  fish,  weighing  all  of  two  pounds,  was 
landed  at  my  feet.  It  was  all  I  needed  for  my  supper,  and 
after  a  short  search  I  found  a  ford,  crossed,  and  concluded 
to  cook  my  prize  before  I  made  any  further  exertions  for 
that  ni^ht. 

As  soon  as  I  had  concluded  supper  and  lighted  my  pipe, 
I  extinguished  the  fire,  for  I  did  not  want  a  party  of  natives 
or  bushrangers  hovering  near  me  during  the  night.  I 
smoked  to  keep  up  my  spirits,  but  at  last  I  could  smoke  no 
longer ;  so  I  picked  out  the  softest  place  I  could  find,  and 
lay  down,  pulled  the  saddle  blanket  over  my  shoulders,  and 
went  to  sleep. 

I  was  awakened  by  a  footstep,  or  at  least  I  thought  1 
heard  some  one,  with  heavy  boots,  crushing  down  the  dry 
leaves  and  branches,  stumbling  over  rocks,  and  sliding  down 
steep  hills.  I  sat  up  and  listened  for  a  long  time ;  but  the 
sounds  died  away  at  last,  and  I  began  to  think  that  all  I  had 
heard  was  a  dream ;  and  yet  I  could  have  sworn  that  a  man  — 
and  a  large  one  at  that  —  had  passed  within  a  dozen  feet  of 
me,  plunging  along  as  though  with  a  purpose,  and  acquainted 
with  the  ground  over  which  he  strode.  As  soon  as  I  was  on 
my  feet,  I  commenced  a  search  for  the  traces  of  the  foot- 
steps which  I  had  heard  during  the  night.  But  my  search 
was  in  vain.  The  ground  was  too  hard  and  dry  to  leave  an 
impression,  and  only  the  experienced  eye  of  a  native  could 
have  found  the  trail. 

I  made  a  breakfast  off  of  a  fresh  fish,  and  then  commenced 
ascending  the  mountain  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  see 
some  sign  of  habitation.  It  took  me  nearly  an  hour  to 
climb  up,  and  after  I  had  reached  the  top  I  could  see  noth- 
ing but  chains  of  hills  with  deep  rich  valleys  between  them. 
Melbourne,  I  knew,  was  in  a  southerly  direction,  distant 
Bome  thirty  or  forty  miles ;  but  what  puzzled  me  mos<  was 
the  fact  that  I  could  see  no  traces  of  the  Lodden,  and  yet  I 


A  STRANGE  MEETI^G.  133 

was  positive  that  I  was  not  many  miles  from  it.  At  last  I 
concluded  that  it  was  best  for  me  to  follow  the  stream  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  in  hope  that  it  would  lead  me  to  some 
Btockman's  hut.  Down  the  mountain  I  scrambled,  and  com- 
menced my  journey.  I  skirted  the  sides  of  the  hill,  avoid- 
ing the  rank  grasses  for  fear  of  encountering  snakes,  and 
walked  on  until  nearly  nine  o'clock ;  and  then  I  was  too  much 
fatigued  to  go  farther  at  that  time.  During  the  morning  I 
had  seen  nothing  that  evinced  the  least  token  that  the  valley 
had  ever  been  inhabited.  I  threw  my  blanket  down  upon 
the  ground,  and  was  just  about  to  lay  my  rifle  on  it,  when  I 
saw  something  that  made  me  alter  my  mind.  Within  tea 
feet  of  me  were  beef  bones,  fish  bones,  and  ashes,  as  though 
considerable  cooking  had  been  done  in  the  vicinity.  I  ex- 
amined to  see  how  long  a  time  had  elapsed  since  fire  was 
made  where  the  ashes  lay.  They  were  fresh,  and  had  not 
been  undisturbed  more  than  two  days,  I  regarded  it  as  a 
joyful  sight,  and  was  just  about  to  congratulate  myself  on 
the  prospect  of  meeting  with  company,  when  a  thick  clump 
of  bushes  suddenly  opened,  and  before  me  appeared  a  wo- 
man, tall,  masculine,  dark,  with  a  ragged  dress,  dirty  and 
ill-fitting,  and  hair  that  looked  innocent  of  comb  and  brush. 
Her  astonishment  at  seeing  me  was  as  great  as  my  own. 
She  pushed  her  tangled  hair  back  from  her  forehead,  and 
stared  at  me  for  a  minute  without  uttering  a  word.  At  last 
Bhe  spoke,  and  her  voice  was  hoarse  and  masculine. 

*'  Who  in  the  devil  is  you  ? "  she  asked. 

"  A  man,"  I  answered. 

*'  Can't  I  tell  that,  you  fool,  without  word  from  you  ? 
Where  did  you  come  from,  and  what  do  you  here  r  '* 

"  I  decline  to  answer  the  question  until  I  know  something 
of  yourself." 

"You  fool,"  she  sneered,  "  the  less  you  know  of  me  the 
better.     I'm  the  devil  when  I'm  crossed." 

'*  Then  I  won't  cross  you,  for  I  don't  want  to  see  a  wo- 
man turn  devil." 

She  looked  at  me  for  a  moment  in  silence,   as   thougli 


134  THE  BUSHBANGEKS. 

w^onderlng  what  I  was  made  of,  and  what  kind  of  deeds  1 
was  capable  of. 

"Are  you  on  the  tramp?"  the  strong-minded  female 
asked,  making  a  comb  of  her  fingers,  and  combing  her  tan- 
gled locks. 

"  Well,  I've  tramped  a  number  of  miles." 

"  D — n  you,  why  don't  you  answer  me  in  a  civil  manner  ?  ^ 
tried  the  indignant  female.  "  You'll  catch  thunder  if  yoa 
ain't  all  right." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  '  all  right  *  ? " 

"  Wait  and  you'll  see  ;  "  and  the  dirty  female  tossed  her 
dirty  head  and  pulled  her  lank  hair  as  though  plucking  it 
out  by  the  roots. 

"  I'll  wait,"  I  said,  in  a  quiet  tone. 

The  eccentric  and  dirty  female  paused  for  a  moment  from 
her  usual  occupation,  and  asked,  "  Is  you  on  the  bushranger 
lay,  or  the  private  tramp  ? " 

It  was  evident  that  the  woman  thought  me  a  robber,  and 
the  question  was,  should  I  allow  her  to  continue  thinking  so, 
or  should  I  tell  her  at  once  what  my  real  business  was.  I 
resolved  to  adopt  the  latter  method. 

"I'm  neither  a  bushranger  nor  a  tramp,"  I  said.  " I  am 
a  gold-hunter,  have  lost  my  way,  and  would  feel  obliged  to 
you  if  you  would  show  the  road  to  Webber's." 

The  dirty-looking  female  eyed  me  in  a  suspicious  manner 

"  You  is  sure  that  you  isn't  a  spy  ?  that  you  didn't  come 
here  to  see  what  you  could  see,  and  then  go  off  and  blart 
like  a  bloody  sheep  ? " 

"  I  am  sure  that  I'm  no  spy,"  I  replied. 

"  And  you  ain't  a  ticket-of-leave  man  ?  " 

"No." 

"  And  you  didn't  escape  from  the  hulks  ?" 

"  No  ;  so  far  I  have  led  an  honest  life." 

The  woman  laughed  in  a  scornful  manner,  and  then  ap. 
preached  me. 

"  Let  me  see  an  honest  man  afore  I  dies.  You  is  the  fust 
one  that  I  has  seen  for  many  years.  Come,  take  off  yer  cap, 
BO  that  I  can  see  yer  face." 


A  STRANGE   MEETING.  134 

I  did  so,  and  the  wild,  dirty-looking  woman  put  her  head, 
repulsive  as  it  was,  close  to  mine,  and  scrutinized  it  closely. 

"  You  look  like  my  Bob  afore  he  went  to  the  bad.  He  had 
jist  sich  a  face  as  ye  has  got.    For  his  sake  I'll  do  ye  a  favor." 

**  Then  direct  me  to  Webber's,  and  point  out  the  shortest  cut.*' 

"You  can't  go  there  now,"  said  the  woman.  " It's  thirty 
miles  from  here,  and  the  boys  is  all  along  the  road.  They'd 
pick  yer  up  afore  you'd  cross  the  Lodden,  and  it's  rough 
treatment  they'd  give  you.  You  must  wait  till  dark,  and 
then  start." 

"  T\Tiom  have  I  to  fear  ? "  I  asked. 

'*  Men  who  don't  like  honest  faces." 

*'  Do  you  mean  bushrangers  ? "  I  demanded  in  an  eager  tone. 

*'  The  traps  calls  'em  that,"  the  woman  said,  in  a  signifi- 
cant manner. 

"  And  what  do  you  call  them  ? "  I  asked. 

*'  Me  ?  I  don't  call  'em.  I  cooks  for  'em,  and  they  comes 
when  they  is  ready." 

"  How  long  have  you  lived  in  this  part  of  the  country  ?  " 
I  asked,  seeing  that  the  woman  was  inclined  to  be  uncon- 
scious of  my  presence. 

She  looked  up  with  a  start,  as  though  suddenly  recol- 
lecting that  I  was  near  her. 

"  How  long  ? "  she  repeated,  with  a  bitter  laugh.  '*  How 
should  I  know,  when  all  days  and  months  is  alike  to  me  ? " 

"  And  have  you  no  desire  to  leave  such  a  dreary  place  for 
some  town,  where  you  can  see  and  feel  that  you  are  in  the 
midst  of  civilization  ?  " 

*'  Why  should  I  ? "  she  asked,  and  raised  her  head.  *'  Who 
would  notice  an  old  woman  like  me  —  one  what  cares  only 
for  her  bottle  and  gin  ?  No  ;  I'm  better  off  where  I  is,  with 
%  party  of  savages,  than  with  peoples  what  ain't  so  rough." 

"  And  when  do  you  think  those  savages  will  return  ? "  I 
demanded,  with  slti  eye  to  my  own  safety. 

"  Not  afore  night,  if  they  do  then,"  she  replied. 

'*  And  you  would  not  advise  me  to  start  until  night  ? " 

"  Not  if  life  is  sweet  to  you.  Did  you  come  from  Mel- 
bourne?" 


136  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

'*  Yes  ;  I  left  there  day  before  yesterday/ 

'*  Did  you  know  Sam  Sykes,  or  the  man  what  thej  call 
the  Manchester  Pet  ?  " 

"  Do  you  know  Sykes  ? "  I  demanded,  in  an  eager  tone. 

"  Ho  !  don't  I  know  the  mean  coward,  and  all  about  him 
and  his  tricks.  He'd  sell  his  soul  or  his  mother  for  gold. 
Ho  !  I  know  him  well  enough." 

*'  And  his  daughter  ;  do  you  know  her  ?  " 

"  His  daughter  I  Ho  !  ho !  yes,  I  know  her ;  Jenny  is 
bsr  name." 

*'  And  she  is  very  handsome,  with  large  blue  eyes  and 
fair  skin." 

The  old  woman  looked  at  me  with  a  keen  eye. 

"  Somethin'  like  me,  hey  ? " 

"  Rather  more  youthful,"  I  replied,  with  a  laugh ;  and  the 
woman  grinned  a  dirty  smile  in  response. 

"  Is  yer  in  love  with  the  fair-skinned  and  dainty  Jenny  ? ' 
asked  the  woman,  combing  her  hair  with  her  fingers. 

*'  I've  seen  her,  and  admire  her,"  I  replied. 

"  And  what  said  the  lass  to  you  ? " 

"  Nothing." 

"  Humph  !  she's  a  proud  wench,  and  might  do  worse,  al- 
though it's  little  she  knows  —  " 

"  Have  you  a  cave  here  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Of  course  we  have,  or  how  could  the  men  hide  when 
they  were  close  pushed  by  the  traps  ?  One  of  the  men  was 
home  last  night,  but  he  went  away  arly  this  mornin'." 

As  she  spoke  she  pushed  aside  the  bushes.  I  followed 
close  at  her  heels,  and  saw  before  me  the  entrance  to  a  cave, 
but  so  blocked  up  with  bushes  that  a  person  would  not  have 
noticed  it,  unless  special  attention  had  been  called  to  the 
matter.  The  sides  of  the  cave  were  composed  of  soft 
quartz,  and  as  I  bent  my  head  to  follow  the  old  woman,  I 
saw,  by  the  aid  of  the  sunshine,  bright  specks  interspersed 
throughout  the  mass,  which  my  experience  told  me  was  gold, 
and  that  the  mountain  or  ridge  on  which  we  stood  was  rich 
with  ore.     I  stopped  for  a  moment  to  examine  the  quartz. 


THE  CAVE.  137 

and  the  woman  turned  back  and  joined  me,  finding  that  1 
had  not  followed  her  into  the  cave. 

"  You*re  lookin'  at  them  specks,"  she  said.  "  Ho  !  I  kno^ 
where  they  is  bigger  and  thicker  nor  that." 

"  And  will  you  tell  me  where  to  find  th'^n  ? " 

**  Not  now,"  she  said.  "  There's  too  much  danger  in  this 
quarter  for  gold-hunters." 

I  followed  her,  with  a  determination  to  clean  out  the  bush' 
rangers,  who  infested  the  neighborhood,  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity, and  then  set  Hez's  quartz-crushing  machines  at  work 
in  the  valley,  where  wood  and  water  were  abundant,  and 
where  I  had  no  doubt  we  could  crush  out  enough  gold  to 
make  our  fortunes  in  a  year's  time,  or  less. 

The  old  woman  led  the  way  through  a  short  arch,  and 
then  we  emerged  into  a  dome-shaped  cell,  large  enough  to 
accommodate  some  twent}^  men.  It  was  lighted  at  the  top 
through  the  roots  of  a  tree,  the  grass  and  earth  being  re- 
moved from  them  for  that  especial  purpose.  The  light  that 
came  from  the  roof  and  that  which  came  from  the  entrance 
was  sufficient  to  enable  me  to  see  all  that  the  cave  contained. 
There  was  quit^  a  stock  there.  Clothes  taken  from  miners 
at  various  times,  were  piled  up  in  one  corner,  without  regard 
to  order  or  convenience,  and  in  the  next  corner  were  stores, 
boxes  of  pickles,  wines,  and  many  things  which  proved  that 
the  robbers  had  an  eye  to  comfort  when  they  took  the  con- 
tents of  some  storekeeper's  team,  on  the  way  to  the  mines. 

'*  What  do  you  think  of  this  ? "  asked  the  woman,  in  a 
triumphant  manner,  as  she  noted  my  look  of  astonishment. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  wanting,"  I  answered. 

"  Name  it." 

"  A  rear  door,  so  that  a  retreat  could  be  made  in  cose  of 
tn  attack  in  front." 

"  And  do  you  think  that  Keeler  is  a  man  to  forget  sich  a 
thiag  as  that  ? "  asked  the  woman,  in  a  scornful  manner. 

"•  Keeler  !  "  I  cried,  in  astonishment ;  "  do  you  mean  to 
tell  me  that  Keeler  is  the  leader  of  the  gang  ? " 

"  Ay,  and  a  bold  leader  he  is.  When  his  name  is  men- 
tioned men  treu^^^"-  and  the  traps  run  like  sheep." 


438  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

rHE    UNEXPECTED    ARBIVAIi.  THE    CONCEALMENTc  IN    A 

TIGHT    PLACE. 

"  Did  yer  hear  it  ? "  asked  the  woman,  in  a  whisper,  with 
every  mark  of  anxiety  on  her  face,  *'  or  was  I  dreaming  ?  '* 

"  I  heard  a  whistle,'*  I  replied.  "  What  is  the  meaning 
of  it?" 

"  It  means  that  some  of  the  gang  is  near  at  hand,  and  if 
they  find  yer,  death  is  your  lot." 

I  picked  up  my  rifle,  and  examined  the  cap  on  the  nipple  ; 
but  the  old  woman  noticed  the  movement,  and  whispered, 
**  Don't  offer  to  fight,  lad.  Keep  quiet,  and  yer  may  yet  es- 
cape." 

Again  the  whistle  sounded.  This  time  it  was  nearer  the 
mouth  of  the  cave. 

"  Under  the  clothes  with  yer,"  cried  the  woman.  '*  Yes, 
take  yer  gun  with  yer.  Don't  ye  hear  'em  ?  They  is  im- 
patient for  me  to  answer  'em,  and  it's  a  putty  cussin'  I'll  get 
for  not  returnin'  the  signal."  As  she  spoke  she  tore  away  the 
clothes,  which  had  not  been  disturbed  for  some  time,  and 
motioned  me  to  lie  down. 

''  Some  of  the  stuff  is  dirty,  but  divil  a  bit  need  yer  care, 
if  yer  life  is  safe.  Don't  yer  move  a  finger  arter  they  is  ia 
the  cave.     Do  yer  mind  me  ?  " 

She  did  not  wait  for  me  to  answer,  but  piled  the  musty- 
smelling  clothes  on  my  person,  and  would  have  covered  up 
my  head  entirely,  if  I  had  not  avoided  it  by  making  a  larri- 
cade  with  my  hands,  and  thus  left  a  place  to  breathe  and  see 
lyhat  was  transpiring  in  the  cave. 

"  Now,  don't  yer  wink,"  the  woman  said,  and  don't 
yer  move  till  I  tells  yer  that  yer  may." 

While  she  was  speaking,  I  heard  the  shrill  tones  of  a 
(yattle  bird  some  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  cave. 

**  They'll  bust  yet,  they  is  so  rampagious.     Blast  'eiD,  T 


THE   UNEXPECTED  ARRIVAL.  I'SS 

wish  they  was  all  pizened.  Now  yer  keep  quiet,  or  yer 
throat  won't  be  worth  a  sheepskin." 

The  latter  remark  was  addressed  to  me,  for  she  gave  the 
clothes  an  energetic  kick,  and  then  took  from  her  bosom  a 
whistle,  and  s-^'inded  a  shrill  note.  Then  she  left  the  cave, 
and  when  she  reached  the  open  air  she  once  more  applied 
the  whistle  to  her  lips,  and  blew  a  peculiar  blast.  Then  all 
was  silent  for  the  space  of  five  minutes  ;  and  just  as  I  began 
to  think  that  the  visitors  had  departed,  I  heard  masculine 
voices,  and  then  two  men  entered  the  cave. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  old  Molly  Brown,"  one  of  the  men 
said,  —  and  I  thought  his  voice  sounded  familiar,  but  I  could 
not  get  a  view  of  his  face,  for  his  back  was  towards  me,  —  "  if 
you  don't  leave  off  drinking  gin,  and  attend  to  your  duties  a 
little  better,  we  shall  quarrel." 

"Who  do  yer  call  old?"  demanded  j\Irs.  Brown,  in  a 
fierce  manner.  "  And  who  'spected  yer  at  this  time  of  the 
day  ?  Didn't  Ben  say  this  mornin*  that  yer  wouldn't  be  at 
home  afore  to-morrer,  or  the  next  day  ? " 

"  Yes,  but  you  d — d  old  fool,  Ben  couldn't  tell  yer  that 
the  traps  would  push  us  hard,  and  send  us  to  cover  for  a  day 
or  two." 

"  0,"  grumbled  Mrs.  Brown,  "  they  is  arter  ye,  is  they  ? " 
,   "  Yes,  and  the  rest  of  the  gang  will  be  here  before  long ; 
30  tear  around,  old  woman,  and  get  us  some  dinner.     We 
are  hungry  as  wolves.     Do  justice  to  the  eating,  and  after 
we  leave  you  may  have  a  glorious  drunk." 

"  Humph  !  "  gruut3d  the  woman  ;  "  yer  is  a  fool  for  talk- 
ing that  way.  I  don't  get  drunk,  but  I  does  drink  when  I 
feels  bad  at  the  stomach." 

'  "  Which  is  often,"  laughed  the  man ;  and  as  he  spoke  he 
turned  his  dark  face  to  the  light,  and  I  saw  the  wild,  fero- 
cious eyes  of  the  man  whom  I  had  seen  in  the  back  parlor 
of  Webber's  House. 

"  Look  a-here,  Keeler,"  said  the  woman,  '*  yer  has  a  good 
deal  of  jaw  to-day,  it  seems  to  me.  If  yer  wants  me  to  get 
somethin*  for  yer  to  eat,  just  yer  start  to  the  brook  and  catch 
me  some  fish." 


140  THE    BUSHK  ANGERS. 

"  0,  Bob  will  go,"  was  the  reply. 

*'  But  I  wants  water.  Here,  take  this  bucket  and  get  m« 
some,  and  I'll  make  yer  a  cup  of  coffee." 

Molly  put  the  bucket  close  to  the  man's  feet,  but  Keelei 
gave  it  a  kick  that  sent  it  flying  across  the  cave  ;  and  then  I 
saw  his  dark,  ugly  eyes  flash  as  he  turned  them  upon  Mrs. 
Brown.  But  Molly  did  not  appear  in  the  least  intimidated 
at  the  threats  which  were  uttered.  She  put  her  arms  akimbo, 
and  looked  the  robber  chief  square  in  the  face  as  she  asked,  — 

"  Keeler,  am  I  useful  to  yer  ? " 

*'  Yes,  when  you  hold  your  tongue." 

*'  Then  yer  keep  a  civil  word  for  me,  or  I'll  find  a  way  of 
leavin'  yer.     I'll  not  stand  much  of  yer  blasted  nonsense." 

The  man  did  not  answer  her.  Perhaps  he  knew  that  he 
should  win  no  honor  in  an  encounter  of  words,  for  at  any 
rate  he  remained  silent  while  the  old  woman  left  the  cave, 
but  in  a  slow  and  reluctant  manner,  as  though  she  feared  to 
leave  me  with  such  a  savage. 

"  Blast  her  !  "  Keeler  said  to  his  companion,  "  she  grows 
more  impudent  every  day.  Liquor  is  raising  the  devil  with 
her  mind." 

"  But  she  is  ^till  useful,"  remarked  the  other.  "  She 
knows  how  to  cook,  if  she  is  saucy  and  dirty." 

The  two  bushrangers  opened  a  bottle  of  brandy,  and  had 
a  drink. 

I  could  have  shot  Keeler,  or  Bob,  from  the  position  which 
I  occupied,  but  I  did  not  want  to  commence  hostilities  until 
the  last  extremity.  I  thought  that  there  was  a  bare  chance 
of  my  escaping  notice,  either  by  the  men  leaving  the  cave, 
or  else  taking  a  nap.  But  while  these  thoughts  were  flying 
through  my  head,  the  confounded  fleas  were  taking  most 
unwarrantable  liberties  with  my  person.  I  did  so  long  to 
squirm  and  commence  a  war  of  extermination  on  the  vermin  ! 
but  when  I  looked  at  the  two  bushrangers  I  restrained 
myself,  in  hope  that  something  would  turn  up  and  relieve 
ine.  But  in  this  respect  I  was  disappointed ;  for,  to  add  to 
my  unpleasant  position,  I  felt  something  of  a  more  substantial 
eat'ir'^  than  fleas  crawling  up  the  leg  of  my  pantaloons,  •wd 


IN  A  TIGHT  PLACE.  141 

it  was  only  by  a  powerful  effort  that  I  could  command  my 
nerves  and  keep  still. 

I  have  already  spoken  of  the  snakes  of  Australia.  Thej 
are  numerous,  and  most  of  them  of  a  venomous  nature.  As 
a  general  thing,  the  smaller  the  snake,  the  more  poison  its 
mouth  contains.  The  large,  anaconda-like  reptiles,  called 
black  snakes,  bite  most  ferociously ;  but  their  teeth  leave  no 
poison  in  the  fiesh ;  while  the  little  copper-colored  fellows, 
with  flat  heads  and  bright  eyes,  such  as  are  found  under  a 
stump  or  a  log,  or  the  green  and  black  reptiles,  are  deadly 
with  their  bites,  and  short  are  the  days  of  a  man  who  receives 
one.  It  seemed  to  me  that  the  reptile  which  was  crawling 
up  my  leg  was  a  small  snake.  Keeler  and  Bob  still  sat 
facing  each  other,  drinking  brandy  and  water,  and  apparently 
enjoying  themselves  in  a  moderate  way.  If  they  would 
only  leave  the  cave  for  a  moment,  I  would  make  a  bold 
stiike  for  life ;  but  the  brutes  did  not  manifest  the  slightest 
disposition  to  stir,  and  yet  the  reptile  that  was  on  my  leg 
was  slowly  working  its  way  upward,  and  would  soon  be 
unable  to  travel  farther,  and  then  I  might  expect  trouble, 
unless  I  could  dislodge  the  snake  by  a  sudden  start.  But  I 
could  do  nothing  of  the  kind  without  meeting  with  a  speedy 
death  at  the  hands  of  the  two  bushrangers.  To  be  sure,  if  I 
had  known  for  a  certainty  that  the  reptile  crawling  up  my 
leg  was  of  a  poisonous  nature,  I  should  have  ended  the  sus- 
pense at  once,  and  met  my  death  like  a  man,  fighting  the 
robbers  and  inflicting  all  the  damage  that  I  was  able  to. 

But  I  was  hopeful  of  saving  my  life,  and  trusted  that 
the  reptile  was  harmless.  Once  I  moved  one  of  my  hands 
towards  the  spot  where  the  reptile  was  travelling,  and 
thought  of  crushing  the  animal  with  a  grasp  of  iron ;  but 
then  I  recollected  that  I  should  get  a  nip  from  Its  needle- 
like teeth,  no  matter  how  quick  I  might  be  in  my  move- 
ments. But  at  last  Mother  Brown  shouted  from  the  mouth 
of  the  cave  that  she  wanted  some  help  to  get  dinner. 

"  Go,  and  assist  her,  Bob,"  said  Keeler.  "  She  is  half 
drunk,  and  needs  help." 

The  young  bushranger  uttered  an  oath  at  the  trouble  he 


142  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

leas  put  to,  and  then  left  tlie  cave.  Keeler  turned  aside,  and 
uommenced  removing  the  earth  from  one  corner  of  the  cave 
—  a  place  which  was  covered  with  boxes.  He  dug  patiently 
and  rapidly  for  a  moment,  stopping  every  two  or  three 
seconds  to  listen  to  the  movements  outside,  as  though  fear- 
ful of  being  interrupted ;  but  at  last,  with  much  care  and 
some  agitation,  he  drew  out  a  tin  box,  removed  the  lid, 
and  his  eyes  appeared  to  see  something  that  was  extremely 
gratifying,  for  a  smile  spread  over  the  man's  dark  face,  and 
I  saw  him  thrust  in  his  hand,  and  remove  from  the  box  sev- 
eral bags.  He  balanced  them  in  his  hand,  as  though  to 
judge  if  any  of  the  contents  had  been  removed  ;  and  after 
he  had  gone  through  with  six  or  eight  bags,  I  heard  him 
mutter,  — 

"No  one  has  disturbed  them  —  no  one  knows  my  secret. 
A  few  more  captures  and  I  shall  have  enough  to  live  on  in  a 
distant  part  of  the  world,  if  I  can  make  my  escape  from  this 
country.     You  go  with  the  rest." 

He  took  from  his  breast  a  bag,  such  as  the  miners  put 
their  fine  gold  in,  and  put  it  in  the  box,  closed  the  lid,  and 
was  about  to  lay  it  away  in  its  former  resting-place,  when 
Mother  Brown,  who,  I  suppose,  felt  a  little  anxious  about 
me,  entered  the  cave  most  unexpectedly.  Keeler  turned 
and  saw  her,  and  his  face  assumed  an  expression  of  rage. 

"  What  do  you  want  here  ?  "  he  demanded,  in  a  fierce 
tone. 

"  And  what  should  I  want,"  Mother  Brown  asked,  noways 
abashed  or  intimidated,  *'  but  the  bread  for  the  soup  ?  " 

"  Take  it  and  go,  then  !  " 

Mrs.  Brown  cast  an  anxious  look  towards  the  clothes  un- 
der which  I  was  concealed,  laid  her  finger  on  her  lips,  and 
then  left  the  cave. 

"  Curse  her  !  does  she  suspect  what  I  have  here  ?  "  Kee- 
ler muttered,  as  he  commenced  covering  the  box  with  earth. 

Just  at  that  instant  the  reptile  which  was  on  my  leg  began 
to  manifest  signs  of  uneasiness,  and  I  could  feel  its  feet  aa 
they  touched  my  flesh,  even  through  the  flannel  drawers 
which  I  had  on.      It  seemed  as  though  I  should  take  leave 


FACE  TO   FACE.  143 

bi  mj  senses,  I  was  so  nervous  and  fearful  of  a  fatal  termi- 
nation ;  and  at  last  I  could  endure  no  more.  I  threw  off 
the  clothes,  and  stood  upon  my  feet.  Keeler  did  not  hear 
my  movements.  I  did  not  care  so  much  for  the  bushranger 
as  I  did  for  the  reptile,  for  I  was  desperate.  I  stepped  upon 
the  hard  floor  of  the  cave,  and  gave  my  pantaloons  a  shake  ; 
and  I  had  to  bite  my  lips  to  prevent  a  cry  from  escaping 
them,  when  I  felt  something  slide  down  my  leg  and  touch 
the  floor.  As  the  reptile  came  in  sight,  I  saw  that,  insteatl 
of  a  snake,  I  had  been  frightened  at  a  harmless  little  house 
lizard.  I  uttered  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  that  sigh  was  so  heart- 
felt that  it  attracted  attention.  Keeler  heard  it,  and  turned) 
and  saw  me  not  ten  feet  from  him. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

FACE    TO    FACE. THE    STKUGGLE. THE    COMPACT. THB 

SUBPEISE. "DEATH    TO    THE    SPY." 

I  JUST  stepped  back  a  few  paces,  and  levelled  my  revolver. 
Luckily  for  me,  Keeler  had  laid  aside  his  fire-arms  when  he 
entered  the  cave.  So  now  I  had  him  at  a  great  disadvan- 
tage, and  he  knew  it ;  for  he  made  a  motion  for  me  to  lower 
my  pistol,  and  then  asked,  in  a  subdued  tone,  "Where  did 
you  come  from  ? " 

"  I  came  through  there,"  I  replied,  and  nodded  towards 
the  arch,  or  entrance. 

**  And  your  friends,  the  traps,  where  are  they  ? "  demandai 
Keeler,  whose  voice  trembled  in  spite  of  his  attempts  to 
conceal  his  agitation. 

"  You  speak  too  loud,"  I  said,  and  once  more  raised  the 
pistol,  and  pointed  it  full  at  his  breast. 

The  man  cowered  before  me,  and  put  up  his  hands  in  an 
imploring  position. 

"  Don't  fire,"  he  said,  "  and  I  will  speak  as  softly  as  yon 

f 


144  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

please  : "  bnt  even  while  he  spoke,  I  could  see  the  treacherous 
eyes  of  the  fellow  glancing  in  every  direction,  as  though  in 
search  of  weapons,  or  soi^e  means  of  turning  the  tables 
upon  me. 

"  We  have  met  before,  Keeler,"  I  said. 

"Yes,  at  Webber's." 

**  You  remember  me,  do  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  for  I  knew  you  suspected  me  at  the  time  I  was  ou 
the  floor  pretending  to  sleep." 

"You  are  right  —  I  did  suspect  you." 

*'  And  why  didn't  you  arrest  me  at  the  time     I  expected  it.'' 

'*  Becausr  I'm  not  a  trap." 

The  fellow's  face  assumed  a  less  sidlen  aspect. 

"  Then  you're  on  the  detective  game  ? " 

"  No,  I'm  not.  I  never  belonged  to  the  police  depart- 
ment." 

"  Then  how  came  you  here,  and  how  did  it  happen  that 
you  were  with  the  police  ?  " 

'*  I  started  with  the  commissioner  for  the  sake  of  company, 
to  see  the  country,  and  see  if  I  could  not  prospect  a  little. 
While  the  police  were  in  pursuit  of  you,  I  got  lost,  and 
wandered  around  until  I  found  this  place,  but  with  no  inten- 
tion of  meeting  you." 

"  Is  that  a  true  statement  ?  "  and  Keeler  looked  honest  as 
he  asked  the  question. 

"  It  is." 

"  Then  there  is  no  occasion  for  us  to  be  at  war.  Come, 
let  us  shake  hands  and  be  friends." 

He  advanced  towards  me  with  extended  hand,  and  with 
such  a  look  of  confidence  that  I  lowered  my  weapon  and 
prepared  to  shake  hands  with  him;  but  just  as  I  reached  out 
to  do  so,  the  rascal  gave  my  revolver  a  kick  with  his  foot, 
and  sent  it  spinning  across  the  cave,  and  at  the  same  time 
he  threw  himself  upon  me,  both  hands  around  my  throat  as 
though  to  garrote  me ;  and  he  would  have  done  so  if  I  had 
not  possessed  sinews  of  steel,  and  strength  that  belied  my 
slight  frame.  I  was  rather  smaU  but  what  there  was  of  me 
was  like  iron. 


THE  STRUGGLE.  I4d 

**  You  d — d  spy !  "  he  cried,  as  his  hands  met  my  neck, 
**  I'll  choke  the  life  out  of  you." 

I  made  no  reply. 

"  You  thought  you  had  tracked  the  lion,  did  you  ?  "  asked 
the  bushranger,  in  a  sneering  manner. 

**  Jackal,  more  like,"  I  responded,  in  a  contemptuous 
^one,  for  the  purpose  of  exciting  his  rage»  and  letting  it 
-sonsume  his  strength. 

*'  Then  I'll  eat  you,  jackal  that  I  am,"  Keeler  cried,  and 
immediately  compressed  my  neck  with  renewed  force. 

There  was  a  brief  struggle,  during  which  I  managed  to 
release  one  of  his  hands  from  its  clutch  upon  my  throat,  and 
as  I  did  so,  I  obtained  a  firm  hold  upon  his  sinewy  neck 
with  one  hand,  while  I  wreathed  the  other  in  his  long  black 
hair,  coarse  and  thicl?. 

"  D — n  you !  let  go  my  hair,"  Keeler  yelled,  for  I  had 
given  it  an  extra  wrench  while  we  were  struggling. 

I  made  no  answer,  except  by  a  savage  shake,  that  made 
him  wink.  He  threw  his  left  arm  around  my  waist,  so  that 
we  were  thus  brought  side  to  side  —  a  position  in  wrestling 
that  rather  suited  me,  for  I  was  accustomed  to  it,  and  knew 
that  my  agility  would  nearly,  if  not  quite,  counterbalance 
his  terrible  strength,  even  if  he  exerted  it  to  the  utmost,  as 
I  had  no  doubt  that  he  would. 

"  Now  I  have  you,"  panted  the  bushranger,  and  with  a 
sudden  jerk  he  thought  to  throw  me  over  his  head  ;  but  I 
caught  one  of  my  feet  around  his  leg,  gave  it  a  twLet,  and 
the  fellow  found  that  his  strength  was  useless,  for  while  he 
sought  to  accomplish  his  purpose  by  the  most  stupendous 
exertion,  he  soon  saw  that  his  object  could  not  be  carried 
out  unless  one  of  his  own  legs  should  give  way. 

AU  this  time  I  was  intent  on  the  man's  motions,  and  I  soon 
saw  that  he  meditated  a  new  trick,  and  one  which  I  instantly 
prepared  for.  While  the  man  was  straining  and  striving  to 
throw  me  over  his  head,  I  felt  a  slight  relaxation  of  his 
muscles.  It  was  sudden,  so  I  knew  that  the  bushranger  was 
prepared  for  the  last  dodge  in  his  list  of  tricks  ;  and  just  as 
the  fellow  thought  he  had  me,  I  gave  him  a  sudden  jerk  that 


146  THE  BUSHRANGEKiS. 

sent  him  headlong  upon  the  ground,  and  I  landed  on  the  top 
of  him,  much  to  his  surprise  and  my  own  satisfaction. 

'*  D — n  you  !  how  did  you  do  that  ? "  Keeler  asked,  aftet 
a  fierce  struggle,  in  which  he  found  it  was  impossible  to  rise. 

**  0,  it  was  a  trick  of  mine,"  I  replied,  improving  the  op- 
portunity to  get  a  little  breath,  which  I  needed,  although  I 
joncealed  the  want  of  it  to  the  utmost. 

"  Let  me  up  and  try  that  over  again,"  Keeler  said.  "  I'D 
bet  that  you  can't  do  it  again." 

"  No,  I'm  satisfied  with  what  I  have  done.  I  have  you 
here  in  my  power,  and  I  can  soon  end  your  career  if  I 
were  disposed  to." 

-How?" 

*'  You  see  that  I  have  a  knife  at  my  side." 

*'  Yes,  I  see." 

"  And  I  can  use  it." 

The  man  made  a  powerful  effort  to  rise,  but  I  held  him 
fast. 

'*  You  see  that  I  can  kill  you  at  any  time,"  I  said. 

"  D — n  you  !  yes,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  do  you  think  I  will  ? " 

"  I  know  what  I  should  do  !  "  and  the  fellow  ground  his 
teeth  together. 

"  What  ? " 

'*  Kill  you."     The  man  looked  as  though  capable  of  it. 

'*  I  know  you  would,  and  now  you  see  that  I  shall  returi 
good  for  evil.  I  do  not  intend  to  injure  you,  but  I  mean 
that  you  shall  listen  to  me." 

*'  Perhaps  I  should  rather  be  killed  than  hear  a  lecture." 

The  rascal  had  a  species  of  grim  humor  that  was  rather 
captivating,  and  I  liked  him  all  the  better  for  it. 

"You  shall  see,"  I  continued.  "In  the  first  place,  I  am 
hero  by  accident,  and  not  as  a  spy.  Do  you  comprehend 
that?" 

*'•  0,  yes  ;  drive  on,  for  you  are  hurting  my  back." 

"  In  the  next  place,  I  want  to  leave  the  cell,  and  have  the 
promise  of  a  safe  journey  to  the  Lodden." 

"  Where  you  can  inform  the  traps  of  our  cave." 


THE   COMPACT.  147 

"  I  shall  do  no  such  thing.  I  pledge  my  word  that,  if  1 
have  a  free  pass  to  the  Lodden,  I  will  not  use  the  informa- 
tion that  I  possess.     Are  you  satisfied  ? " 

"  Of  course  I  am.  Your  word  is  good  for  that.  Now  Icl 
me  up." 

*'  In  one  moment.  Will  you  promise  to  allow  me  a  free 
passage  to  the  river  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  glad  to  get  rid  of  you.  I  will  shake  hands 
on  the  contract  if  you  will  release  me." 

I  did  so.  The  bushranger  slowly  arose,  stretched  hia 
limbs,  and  then  glanced  at  me.  I  met  his  gaze  without 
flinching. 

"  Come  in,  Bob,"  the  bushranger  said,  speaking  to  hia 
companion,  who  seemed  to  have  entered  the  cave. 

I  turned  to  look  at  the  man,  and  that  act  was  an  impru- 
dence, for  the  treacherous  rascal  threw  himself  upon  me, 
dashed  me  to  the  floor,  and  then  shouted  for  his  comrade. 
He  had  played  me  a  bushranger's  trick,  but  it  was  one  that 
I  could  not  have  avoided. 

"  You  fool,"  he  said,  when  he  found  that  I  was  too  much 
bruised  to  struggle  or  contend  with  him,  "  did  you  suppose 
for  a  moment  that  I  intended  to  release  you,  so  that  you 
could  bring  a  cloud  of  traps  down  upon  us  ?  You  must  have 
thought  that  I  was  precious  green." 

Keeler  raised  his  voice,  and  shouted,  "  Bob,  come  here, 
and  see  what  I  have  got." 

But  no  Bob  answered  to  the  call ;  so  Keeler  was  forced  to 
hold  me  and  talk  to  me  ;  and  yet  I  could  read  in  the  man's 
eye  that  he  was  somewhat  apprehensive  that  I  would  defeal 
him. 

"  This  time  you  walked  into  a  hornet's  nest,  my  young 
spy,"  Keeler  said.  "  You  will  go  out  in  a  different  mannei 
from  that  in  which  you  came  in." 

"  But  remember  your  promise,"  I  replied.  "  I  had  your 
life  at  my  disposal  at  one  time.  Now  you  have  mine  at 
your  command.  Be  as  generous  as  I  was.  Becollect  that 
I  have  never  done  you  harm,  except  when  I  threw  you,  a  fe\f 
minutes  since." 


148  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

'*  You  threw  me  by  a  foul  trick,"  cried  the  bushranger, 
giving  me  a  savage  shake  for  reminding  him  of  his  humilia- 
tion.    "  You  could  not  do  it  by  a  fair  hold." 

"Let  me  up,  and  we'll  see,"  I  answered.  "  I'll  give  you 
a  fair  trial  if  you  dare  take  one." 

Keeler  uttered  a  savage  oath. 

"  Then  you  have  really  made  up  your  mind  to  kill  me  ?  " 
I  asked,  in  as  cool  a  tone  as  I  could  command,  at  the  same 
time  attempting  to  move  one  of  my  arms  so  that  I  could 
gain  possession  of  my  bowie-knife,  which  I  still  had  about 
my  person. 

*'  Swift  and  sure  is  a  bushranger's  vengeance,"  Keeler 
replied,  and  blocked  my  game  in  moving  my  arm.  He 
pinned  it  to  my  side,  and  grinned  in  a  sarcastic  manner  as 
he  did  so. 

"  No,  yoti  don't !  "  he  cried  ;  "  I  am  too  old  to  be  taken 
in  that  way." 

Once  more  Keeler  called  to  his  comrade,  and  I  heard  him 
enter  the  cave,  followed  by  Mother  Brown. 

"  ¥/Tiat's  the  row  ? "  asked  Bob,  stopping  a  few  paces 
from  us,  and  shading  his  eyes,  so  as  to  accustom  them  to  the 
light.     He  could  not  see  us  at  first. 

"  I've  caught  a  spy,"  Keeler  answered.  "  Find  a  pair  of 
bracelets  for  his  hands,  and  a  cord  for  his  feet.    Look  alive." 

"  How  in  tiie  devil's  name  did  he  come  here  ? "  asked 
Bob. 

"  0,  he  walked  in  while  you  were  off  for  water.  I  didn't 
see  him  till  he  held  a  pistol  at  my  head." 

"  Marcy  on  us  ! "  cried  Mrs.  Brown,  with  well-feigned 
alarm ;  "  we  shall  all  be  murdered  in  our  beds." 

"  Find  the  bracelets,"  said  Keeler,  "  and  put  them  on,  so 
that  I  can  get  dinner.  I've  had  a  tussle  with  this  fellow, 
and  need  a  little  rest." 

"  I'm  ari-er  'em  sharp,"  replied  Bob ;  and  just  at  that 
moment  he  pulled  out  a  pair  of  rusty  handcuffs  from  one 
corner  of  the  cave,  and  came  towards  us.  "  Here  they  is," 
he  said.  "  They  hasn't  been  used  since  we  put  them  an  that 
spy  purliceman  the  day  afore  we  shot  him." 


"DEATH   TO  THE  SPY. 


149 


*•  And  here  is  another  one  of  the  same  sort,"  returned 
Keeler.     "  You  know  I  told  you  of  a  sharp-looking  chap 
who  was  with  the  police  ?  " 
*'  Yes." 

"  Well,  this  is  the  one.  He  has  tracked  us  to  this  place. 
He  is  a  spy,  but  he  will  never  cross  another  bushranger*s 
trail." 

"I  should  think  not,"  responded  Bob;  and  stooping 
down,  he  raised  one  of  my  hands  for  the  purpose  of  slipping 
the  handcuffs  on  it.  I  saw  Mother  Brown  seize  an  axe 
which  she  had  in  her  hand,  and  with  which  she  had  been 
splitting  wood,  as  though  she  was  determined  to  give  me 
freedom  by  smashing  the  head  of  one  of  the  villains,  think- 
ing that  I  could  take  care  of  the  second  one  ;  but  just  as  she 
was  prepared-  to  shed  blood,  a  signal  outside  of  the  cavp 
announced  the  near  approach  of  the  remainder  o^  the  gano*. 
Keeler  heard  it  as  soon  as  I,  for  he  turned  to  Mother 
Brown,  little  thinking  how  near  he  had  escaped  certain 
death,  and  said,  "  Answer  the  signal,  and  tell  the  boys  to 
hurry  up.     I  have  captured  a  prize  for  them." 

Mother  Brown  laid  her  finger  on  her  lips  in  a  significant 
manner,  as  though  cautioning  me  to  be  silent,  and  left  the 
cave. 

"  Now,  then,  my  beauty,  jist  put  yer  dawley  in  this  'ere 
ornament,  and  then  you'll  be  all  right  and  comfortable. 
Come,  don't  be  backward,  'cos  you  must  come  to  it.  It  is  a 
honor  we  allers  pay  to  gentlemen  what  visits  us  for  the  pur- 
pose of  noting  our  actions." 

As  Bob  spoke  I  saw  that  it  was  useless  to  struggle. 
The  bushrangers  had  me  in  their  power,  and  could  do  as 
they  pleased.  I  let  them  put  on  the  bracelets  without  resist- 
ance ;  and  after  they  were  on  Keeler  no  longer  feared  me. 
He  suffered  me  to  stand  up,  and  even  sit  down  ;'  but  he  took 
good  care  to  deprive  me  of  the  last  weapon  that  I  possessed. 
My  revolver,  especially,  was  of  great  value  to  the  fellow,  and 
he  stuck  it  in  his  belt  with  infinite  zest  and  satisfaction, 
while  Bob  adorned  his  person  with  my  knife  and  belt ;  and 
after  that  they  took  a  drink  together,  and  had  hardly  con. 


150  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

eluded  when  six  ill-favored,  dirty,  long-haired,  and  bloody, 
minded  bushrangers  stalked  into  the  cave  and  deposited 
their  guns  and  pistols  on  the  heap  of  clothing, 

"  By  G — d,  we've  had  a  run  for  it,"  one  swarthy  ruffian 
said,  wiping  his  face  with  his  shirt  sleeve.  "  We  got  the  sig- 
nal just  in  time,  for  as  we  crossed  the  South  Ford  we  saw  the 
cussed  traps  stealing  through  the  woods.  They  didn't  sight 
as,  though,  and  now  here  we  is.  Give  us  some  rum.  Mot  he? 
Brown." 

The  ruffians  had  not  noticed  me  ;  but  now,  after  their  eyes 
got  accustomed  to  the  light  of  the  cave,  they  saw  me  for  the 
first  time,  and  crowded  around  me,  forgetting,  for  the  time 
being,  their  love  for  gin. 

"  What  is  he  ? "  demanded  the  most  ill-favored  of  the 
ruffians. 

"  A  spy  !  "  replied  Keeler. 

Every  hand  was  laid  on  a  knife,  and  every  knife  was 
drawn  and  pointed  at  me. 

"  Death  to  the  spy !  "  was  the  cry.  "  Kill  him  !  kill  him ! 
Death  to  the  spy  !  " 

Keeler  struck  up  the  knives,  and  waved  the  men  back. 

"  He  is  my  prisoner,"  the  chief  said.  "  I  have  a  word  to 
say  as: to  the  manner  in  which  he  shall  die." 

"  Death  to  the  spy ! "  the  sullen  bushrangers  continued 
io  cry. 

"  He  shall  die,  men,"  Keeler  said,  *'but  wait  until  after 
dinner." 

"  Yes,  let  us  have  some  grub  first,"  and  just  then  Mother 
Brown  entered  the  cave,  and  announced  that  dinner  was 
ready. 


MOTHER  BROWN  AND   HER  FRIENDSHIP.  15) 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

MOTHER    BROWN    AND     HER     FRIENDSHIP.  THE    DISGOISE. 

AN    ATTEMPT    TO    ESCAPE. 

Thank  Grod,  the  bushrangers  were  as  hungry  a  set  of  men 
»£  could  be  found  in  Australia ;  therefore  they  did  not  need 
a  second  invitation  at  the  hands  of  Mother  Brown.  They 
ruihed  out  of  the  cave,  and  left  me  alone,  the  rascals  think- 
ing that  it  was  not  necessary  to  leave  a  guard  to  look  after 
me,  as  I  could  not  quit  the  cave  without  passing  through 
the  gang,  most  of  them  being  seated  at  the  entrance  of  the 
retreat.  I  heard  the  robbers,  when  they  gained  the  open  air 
gather  around  the  respected  Mrs.  Brown,  and  express  some 
little  indignation  because  their  dinner  was  not  just  ready, 
although  the  lady  had  said  it  was  prepared.  It  was  not 
taken  from  the  fire*.  And  when  one  public-spiritegl  individ- 
ual suggested  that  the  gentlemen  present  could  amuse  them- 
selves by  hanging  "  that  d — d  spy"  before  grub  was  ready, 
I  feared  that  the  proposition  would  meet  with  universal  fa- 
vor; and  perhaps  it  would  have  done  so  if  Mrs.  Brown  had 
not  raised  her  voice  in  opposition  to  the  project,  and  when 
she  spoke  she  talked  plain. 

"  Look  a-here,  yer  rascals,"  she  said ;  "  I  ain't  goin'  to 
spile  my  taters  and  fish  to  please  yer.  They  is  all  done,  and 
now  yer  jist  git  yer  tin  plates  and  squat  down.    I'll  sarve  yer." 

"  But  you  said  that  dinner  was  all  ready.  Mother  Brown," 
Keeler  remarked. 

"  No,  sir,  not  by  a  d — d  sight,"  the  strong-minded  female 
replied.  "  I'se  got  some  bitters  for  yer  afore  yer  takes  the 
«-ittles." 

Suddenly  I  heard  Mrs.  Brown's  footsteps  as  she  entered 
the  cave.  She  grumbled  all  the  way  through  the  arch  ;  but 
the  instant  that  she  saw  me  she  ceased  her  complaints,  and 
whispered,  — 

'*  Keep  up  yer  spirits,  lad,  and  I'll  do   all  I  can  for  yer^ 


152  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

*cos  yer  look  jist  like  my  Bobby.  They  shan't  kill  yor  if  1 
can  help  it.  I  wants  yer  for  to  live,  and  marry  the  blue-eyed 
Jenny." 

She  did  not  have  time  to  utter  more,  for  one  of  the  bush' 
rangers  entered  the  cave,  and  the  old  woman  left  me  abruptly, 
and  occupied  herself  with  some  bottles  which  contained  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  liquors.  The  fellow  who  had  followed  her  in 
happened  to  be  the  sullen-looking  bushranger,  and  the  most 
bloodthirsty  of  the  lot.  I  don't  know  but  that  he  was  a  little 
suspicious  that  some  collusion  was  taking  place  between  Mrs. 
Brown  and  myself;  for  he  glanced  at  us  in  a  threatening 
manner,  and  then  rejoined  his  comrades  outside. 

"  He's  a  wiper,"  whispered  the  old  woman.  "  I'd  like  to 
pizen  him." 

"  And  why  don't  you  ?  " 

*'  'Cos  I  ain't  got  no  pizen,"  was  the  satisfactory  answer  ; 
and  then  Mrs.  Brown  continued  to  mix  her  liquors  in  silence, 
and  after  she  had  concluded,  she  listened  for  a  moment, 
found  that  her  amiable  companions  were  all  outside,  talking 
of  their  adventures  and  escapes,  when  she  cautiously  ap- 
proached me,  and  whispered,  — 

*'  Take  a  sup  of  this,  honey.     It  will  do  yer  good." 

I  just  wet  my  lips  with  the  liquor,  which  contained  sugar 
in  large  quantities  ;  and  then  the  woman  said,  *'  I'll  stand  by 
yer,  'cos  yer  look  jist  like  my  poor  Bobby.  Them  pizen 
things  shan't  cut  yer  wizzen  if  I  can  help  it.  Do  yer  keep 
yer  weather  eye  open,  that's  all." 

Her  condition  must  have  been  remarked  the  instant  that 
she  hove  in  sight ;  for  one  of  the  brutes,  in  the  most  unfeel- 
ing manner,  roared  out,  "  Hello,  Mother  Brown !  drunk  again, 
and  afore  we  has  had  our  dinner." 

All  of  this  the  woman  denied  in  most  emphatic  terms,  and 
while  she  was  thus  waging  a  war  of  words,  she  served  out 
the  dinner  ;  and  then  I  could  hear  the  men  discussing  it  with 
infinite  relish,  like  hungry  men  that  they  were.  I  knew  that 
Mrs.  Brown  was  plying  them  with  liquor,  and  that  they  drank 
large  quantities  of  it ;  but  at  last  she  said  she  mast  enter  the 
save,  and  obtain  more. 


MOTHER  BEOWN   AND   HER   FRIENDSHIP.  15!i 

"  Well,  don't  be  all  day  about  it,"  Keeler  said ;  and  in 
she  came,  headed  towards  me,  and  whispered,  *'  I'll  save 
yer,  never  fear.     Here,  hold  out  yer  hands  ? " 

I  did  so,  and  she  immediately  -commenced  operating  on 
the  bracelets ;  and  so  smart  did  she  work  that  she  managed 
to  free  my  wrists,  although  she  swayed  dreadfully  while 
about  it. 

"  Now,  my  dear  boy,  take  yer  gun  and  run  for  it,"  she 
whispered ;  and  as  she  spoke  she  made  a  lurch  to  port,  and 
would  have  fallen  if  I  had  not  caught  her  and  steadied  her. 

"  It's  a  corn  that  I  have  on  my  foot,"  she  remarked,  as  an 
apology  for  the  manner  in  which  she  staggered  round.  "  It 
allers  made  me  walk  lame,  and  it  allers  will.  Sometimes  it 
is  wuss  than  at  other  times.     This  is  one  of  the  wusser  days." 

She  stooped  down  to  show  me  the  offending  excrescent ; 
but,  in  attempting  to  lift  her  dress,  she  made  a  plunge  for- 
ward, and  fell  upon  the  pile  of  clothing  under  which  I  had 
been  concealed.  She  was  very  drunk,  but  stiU  she  would 
not  own  it. 

"  It's  wery  troublesome,  to-day,"  she  whispered  ;  and  then 
she  laid  her  head  upon  the  clothes,  and  seemed  to  be  making 
preparations  for  sleep,  much  to  my  surprise  and  horror ;  for 
I  thought  that  my  chances  of  escape  were  dull  unless  I  had 
her  assistance.  She  closed  her  eyes,  and  I  thought  she  was 
about  to  snore  ;  so  for  fear  that  she  should,  I  seized  her  arm, 
and  shook  her  rather  vigorously. 

*'  "Wal,"  she  asked,  opening  her  eyes  with  a  stupid  stare, 
*'  what  is  it  ? " 

I  could  still  hear  the  bushrangers  cracking  their  jokes,  and 
eating  their  dinner,  and  I  knew  that  time  was  precious. 

"Come,"  I  whispered,  "I  thought  that  you  intended  to 
assist  me  to  escape." 

She  hiccoughed  several  times,  and  then  stooped  down  and 
rubbed  her  foot  in  a  thoughtful  manner,  as  though  to  take 
time  and  collect  what  little  sense  she  had  left. 

"  It's  wery  troublesome  to-day,"  she  muttered.  "  I  should 
chink  that  ve  was  in  for  a  rain.  It  aUers  aches  when  there' ji 
%  rain." 


154  *    THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

I  once  more  gave  her  a  shake,  and  it  seemed  to  do  her 
good ;  for  she  passed  her  very  dirty  and  hard-looking  Land 
over  her  eyes,  and  slipped  off  the  pile  of  clothing. 

"  I  'members  all  about  it,"  she  muttered.  "  You  wants 
to  cut  from  this  place.  You're  jist  like  my  own  Bobby,  and 
you  shall  clear.  If  you  don't,"  the  woman  continued,  itet 
a  moment's  thought,  "  them  'ere  cusses  will  rip  yer  threat 
open,  and  think  nothin'  of  it.  So,  to  save  your  life,  I  must 
make  a  scarafice." 

"  Why  can't  I  escape  by  the  concealed  passage-way,"  I 
asked ;  and  I  pointed  to  the  place  where  it  was. 

The  old  woman  shook  her  head.  "  A  thafe  is  watchin' 
it,  and  he'd  shoot  you  like  smoke  if  ye  stirred  that  way.'* 

Drunk  as  the  woman  was,  she  noticed  the  change  in  my 
face,  and  hastened  to  cheer  me. 

•*  I'll  save  yer  yet,"  she  whispered.  "We  can  cheat  the 
divils  in  more  ways  than  one.     Here,  see  me." 

The  woman  was  a  terrible  spectacle ;  for  she  stood  be- 
fore me  with  only  one  garment  upon  her  back,  and  that 
was  of  such  a  color  that  no  man  could  have  told  what 
it  was. 

"  Now  then,  on  with  'em,"  she  said,  and  pointed  to  the 
two  articles  which  she  had  shed,  apparently,  by  a  shake  of 
her  person. 

"  Do  you  mean  that  I  must  on  thos^e  clothes  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Of  course  I  do.  Don't  stand  there  chattering  all  day 
about  it,  or  the  divils  will  come  in  and  see  me  in  this  terrible 
state.     It's  to  save  yer  life  I  do  it." 

She  made  a  pitch  forward,  but  I  caught  her  and  stood  her 
on  her  feet  once  more. 

"  It's  the  corn,"  she  whispered  ;  "  it  aches  wuss  than  ever." 

During  all  this  time  I  could  hear  the  bushrangers  drinking 
and  eating,  and  even  cracking  their  jokes  at  my  expense. 

"  You  hear  'em  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Brown,  with  a  leer  and  a 
drunken  hiccough. 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  I  must  save  yer  for  the  blue-eyed  gal's  sake.  She'li 
thank  me  for  what  I've  done." 


THE  DISGUISE.  15A 

She  muttered  something  about  the  rascality  of  Sykes  and 
I  had  to  shake  her  a  little  to  restore  her  to  consciousness. 

**Put  'em  on,"  she  said,  as  soon  as  she  was  reslored- 
"  Put  'em  on,  or  the  divils  will  hang  ye.  Put  'em  on,  and 
pass  out  of  the  cave,  and  no  one  will  notice  but  yer  is  old 
Mother  Brown." 

I  looked  at  the  garments  with  a  feeling  of  disgust.  Mrs. 
Brown  noticed  it. 

"  Ye  needn't  turn  up  yer  nose  at  the  gown.  It's  a  good 
go  WE,  and  will  cover  yer  up.  On  with  it.  It's  the  only  way 
for  yer  to  cut.  I  tell  yer  it  is  worth  some  risk ;  now,  mind 
me." 

"  But  what  will  they  do  with  you  ? " 

"  Never  you  mind  me  ;  I  can  take  care  of  myself.  They 
won't  trouble  me  ;  I'd  tear  their  hair  out  if  they  did." 

I  secured  the  petticoat  around  my  waist,  and  got  my  arms 
in  the  dress ;  how  it  was  done  I  don't  know. 

"Now  mind  yer,'*  said  Mrs.  Brown,  "yer  must  walk  jist 
like  me  —  as  lady-like  as  possible." 

She  started  to  cross  the  cave,  but  her  walk  was  far  from 
lady-like,  unless  reeling  is  a  lady-like  accomplishment. 

"  Do  that,"  she  whispered,  "  and  take  no  notice  of  the 
thieves.  If  they  talk  to  yer,  don't  yer  answer  'em,  but  groan, 
and  put  yer  hand  on  yer  belly  this  way,  and  then  steer  for 
the  brook  with  a  pail  in  yer  hand,  as  though  yer  were  artei 
water." 

"  In  what  direction  shall  I  go  to  steer  clear  of  the  bush- 
rangers who  are  on  the  watch } " 

"  Sure  I  was  about  to  tell  yer  that.  When  yer  reach  the 
stream,  cross  it,  and  stick  close  by  the  edge  of  the  woods. 
But  mind  that  yer  keep  out  of  sight,  for  there'll  be  thieves 
lookin'  for  yer  from  every  high  peak  between  this  and  thp 
Lodden.     Do  yer  understand  me  : " 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  then,  go,  and  may  the  blessin'  of  ola  Mother 
BrovvTi  go  with  ver.  It's  a  bold  push  I  make  to  save  yer 
Ufe." 

The  wretches  outside  had  just  about  finished  their  dinner. 


156  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

and  were  washing  it  down  with  liberal  libationa  of  liquor, 
when  I  appeared. 

"  Hullo,  old  lady,"  shouted  one  of  the  men,  "  what  have 
you  been  doing  with  the  spy  ? " 

"  Making  love  to  him,  to  be  sure,"  answered  Bob  ;  and  at 
this  there  was  a  shout,  as  though  something  witty  had  been 
uttered. 

I  knew  that  the  old  woman  would  not  submit  to  such  an 
imputation  without  some  remonstrance,  so  I  aimed  a  playful 
blow  at  his  head  with  the  bucket,  but  the  young  joker  dodged 
me,  and  put  his  finger  to  his  nose. 

"  No,  you  don't.  Mother  Brown.  I  am  on  the  lookout  for 
your  back  licks  ;  you  can't  come  it."  ,. 

*'  Mother  Brown  is  in  a  ferocious  mood,"  said  Keeler. 

*'  Now,"  I  thought,  "  is  my  time  for  an  escape." 

I  had  not  proceeded  far  when  I  heard  footsteps  behind 
me.  I  tried  to  walk  slow,  and  to  show  no  signs  of  uneasi- 
ness ;  but  when  I  recollected  that  I  had  no  weapons  for  de- 
fence, that  not  even  a  knife  was  left  me,  I  must  confess  that 
I  did  not  think  I  could  offer  much  resistance  in  case  I  was 
commanded  to  return.  But  I  swaggered  on,  still  grasping 
the  bucket,  and  determined  to  smash  the  head  of  any  man 
who  insisted  on  my  return  to  the  cave.  The  footsteps  be- 
hind me  drew  near.  I  did  not  turn  my  head,  but  I  listened 
most  intently,  and  wondered  what  the  devil  the  fellow  wanted ; 
and  just  before  I  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain  I  felt  a 
hand  laid  on  my  shoulder,  and  Bob's  voice  whispered, — 

**  Mother  Brown,  let  me  make  you  a  present." 

I  turned  and  saw  the  muzzle  of  my  own  pistol  pointed  at 
my  head,  and  Bob's  face  looked  threatening  as  he  glanced 
at  me  under  my  sun -bonnet.  I  feared  that  all  was  lost  — 
that  escape  was  no  longer  possible. 


AN   OLD   ACQUAINTANCE.  15? 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

41f   OLD    ACQUAINTANCE.  THE    PTTKSUIT.  —  BTSHRANGER8 

AND    THEIR    CONSCIENCES. 

As  I  looked  the  young  bushranger  full  in  the  eye,  I  saw 
at  once  that  he  did  not  appear  very  ferocious,  or  seem  very 
determined,  and  on  taking  a  second  glance  I  found  that  my 
revolver  was  not  pointed  square  at  my  head,  as  I  first  sup- 
posed, so  that  if  he  had  fired,  no  great  injury  would  have 
been  done. 

"  Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  Mrs.  Brown,"  continued  Bob,  walk- 
ing by  my  side,  and  attempting  to  keep  step  with  me,  as 
though  he  had  seen  something  of  military  life.  "  You  have 
time  enough  to  get  the  water.  The  day  is  hot,  and  I  fear 
you  will  sufi"er." 

I  still  pretended  to  be  half  drunk,  but  Bob  laid  a  hand  on 
my  arm  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  steadying  me,  and  as  he  did 
5o,  he  said, — 

**  Don't  attempt  to  walk  so  fast,  Mrs.  Brown.  I  fear  that 
our  friends  will  think  you  want  to  leave  them.  They  might 
bring  you  back  if  such  was  the  case.  Keep  step  with  me, 
and  don't  be  so  eager.  You  are  either  not  drunk  enough, 
or  too  drunk.     Which  is  the  case  } " 

"  What  in  the  devil  do  you  mean  ? "  I  demanded,  turning 
on  the  man  and  speaking  in  my  natural  tone. 

He  did  not  manifest  the  least  surprise  at  the  question,  but 
continued  to  walk  by  my  side. 

"  I  mean,"  he  said,  "  that  if  you  were  so  drunk  that  you 
had  to  lay  down  like  a  hog,  no  one  would  come  near  you. 
When  half  drunk,  people  offer  advice,  and  are  sometimes 
intrusive.     Do  you  understand  me  ? " 

"  I  think  I  do." 

"  Then  I  hope  you  will  profit  by  it ;  for  it  would  be  awk- 
ward if  Keeler  should  think  that  his  vengeance  was  not 
likely  to  be  gratified." 


158  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"  The  fact  of  it  is,"  I  said,  "  you  know  me,  and  would  do 
mo  a  good  turn.  I  thank  you  for  it,  and  hope  to  be  able  to 
recip'rocate  some  time." 

"  Of  course  I  know  you.  Mother  Brown.  We  have  been 
together  for  some  years.  You  may  have  forgotten  me,  but 
your  features  are  quite  familiar  to  me."  I  bowed,  and  walked 
a  little  more  straight. 

**  I  suppose  you  remember  some  years  since,  Mrs.  Brown,** 
continued  the  bushranger,  "  a  soldier  of  the  English  army, 
stationed  at  Ballarat,  was  imprudent  enough  to  get  drunk 
and  leave  his  post.  A  few  paces  from  the  point  where  he 
was  stationed,  two  Americans  owned  a  store." 

I  stole  a  look  at  the  speaker's  face,  and  began  to  entertain 
an  idea  that  I  had  seen  it  before. 

*'  Most  people  would  have  left  the  soldier  to  suffer  the 
penalty  of  his  crime  ;  but  not  so  the  xlmericans.  They  saw 
that  the  soldier  had  been  imprudent,  and  that  he  could  be  saved 
the  penalty  of  his  offence  with  a  little  trouble  on  their  part ; 
so  they  seized  on  the  unlucky  dog,  stripped  him,  drenched 
him  with  cold  water,  and  then  gave  him  an  emetic  for  the 
purpose  of  clearing  his  stomach  of  the  liquor  which  it  con- 
tained. The  soldier  was  awful  sick  for  a  few  minutes,  but 
the  cure  was  rapid ;  and  before  his  comrades  or  officers  knew 
that  he  had  left  his  post,  or  had  indulged  in  liquor,  he  was 
back  to  it,  with  his  musket  to  his  shoulder,  pacing  his 
rounds." 

"  I  recollect  the  circumstance,"  I  said ;  and  then  I  added, 
with  a  smile,  "  if  I  mistake  not,  the  soldier  had  to  be  re- 
lieved from  his  post  on  account  of  sickness." 

"  Yes  ;  but  his  back  was  saved  from  the  touch  of  the 
cat,  I  have  always  recollected  the  affair,  and  determined 
to  repay  the  debt  if  it  was  in  my  power.  You  see  I  have 
gratitude,  even  if  I  do  belong  to  a  desperate  gang.  Hold 
on ;  not  so  fast,"  my  companion  continued,  as  I  strode  for- 
ward, anxious  to  put  a  wide  space  between  the  bushrangers 
and  myself.  "  Mrs.  Brown  does  not  usually  exert  herself  in 
such  a  manner.  There  may  be  sharp  eyes  c  n  your  move- 
ments.    Who  can  tell  ?  " 


AN  OLD   ACQUAINTANCE.  \5^ 

I  checked  my  pace,  and  the  young  fellow  continued,  still 
«peaking  as  though  I  was  Mrs.  Brown  :  '*  You  may  wonder 
that  I  am  here  ;  but  when  I  tell  you  that  I  struck  my  com- 
manding officer,  and  was  forced  to  fly  or  be  shot,  you  will 
cease  to  be  astonished.  I  wish  I  was  out  of  it;  but  how 
can  I  leave  when  a  price  is  set  upon  my  head  ? " 

"  Perhaps  a  pardon  might  be  obtained,"  I  suggested. 

"  Now  you  are  laughing  at  me.  Mother  Brown.  Bush- 
rangers are  not  often  pardoned." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  might  obtain  the  favor  if  proper 
representations  were  made  at  headquarters."  The  young 
fellow  shook  his  head. 

"My  crimes  are  too  numerous  for  such  clemency;  so  don't 
attempt  to  inspire  me  with  such  hope  as  that.  I  must  see 
the  thing  through,  now  that  I  have  started." 

"  But  suppose  a  bold,  enterprising  young  fellow  should 
some  day  conclude  that  it  would  be  for  his  welfare  to  hand 
Keeler  over  to  the  mercies  of  the  authorities.  Such  a  man 
could  make  terms." 

"  Damnation  !  Do  you  think  I  would  commit  so  mean  an 
act  ?  I  can  steal,  but  I  can't  turn  traitor.  No,  no,  Mother 
Brown,  I'll  never  betray  Keeler,  for  he  has  proved  true  to 
me." 

By  this  time  we  had  arrived  at  the  brook.  I  looked  back, 
and  saw  my  escape  had  not  yet  been  noticed. 

"  We  must  part  here,"  the  young  bushranger  continued. 
"  Cross  this  brook,  make  for  yonder  woods,  keep  near  the 
edge,  and  don't  show  yourself  until  after  you  have  passed 
the  bluff  which  you  see  on  my  right.  A  lookout  is  stationed 
there,  and  he  might  see  you  if  you  crossed  the  valley  near 
him.  Follow  the  edge  of  the  wood  for  ten  miles,  then  strike 
the  brook,  and  it  will  take  you  to  the  Lodden.  Once  there, 
you  will  know  how  to  look  out  for  yourself." 

"  But  do  you  encounter  no  danger  in  thus  assisting  me  ? 
Recollect  that  your  friends  will  be  enraged  when  they  find 
me  gone." 

•*  I'll  risk  the  consequences.  No  one  suspected  that  you 
were  dressed  in  Mother  Brown's  clothes,  and  I  don't  know 


160  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

how  it  happens  fcliat  you  have  them  on  ;  but  I'll  risk  tut  thai 
she  will  clear  her  skirts,  even  if  she  has  lost  them." 

"  And  how  did  you  discover  me  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  did  not  until  I  caught  a  slight  view  of  your  face. 
None  of  the  others  noticed  you,  for  your  make-up  is  good  " 

"  Can't  I  persuade  you  to  leave  with  me  ? " 

The  bushranger  shook  his  head. 

"  I  must  stick  to  Keeler,"  he  said.  "  I  wish  I  was  clear 
of  the  business  ;  but  I  can't  see  how  I  can  leave.  If  I  oould 
quit  the  country,  I  would  jump  at  the  chance.  But  it  is 
useless  to  repine.  Good  b3^  Take  your  pistol  with  you ;  I 
i^tole  it  from  Keeler.     It  will  do  you  more  good  than  him/' 

He  extended  his  hand,  and  I  shook  it  most  heartily,  then 
threw  down  the  bucket,  puUed  my  skirts  up,  and  with  a 
strong  jump  cleared  the  stream,  plunged  into  the  tall  grass, 
—  so  high  that  it  concealed  my  head  when  I  stooped  a  little,  — 
and  commenced  working  my  way  towards  the  woods.  Many 
times  I  glanced  back  and  took  a  survey  of  the  bushrangers ; 
but  my  absence  was  not  discovered  until  after  Bob  had  joined 
them.  Then  I  heard  a  shout,  and  saw  that  Mother  Brown, 
with  nothing  on  but  —  well,  the  article  that  I  left  on  her 
back  —  a  scant  piece  of  clothing,  was  out  of  the  cave,  and 
surrounded  by  excited,  disappointed  bushrangers.  For  a 
few  minutes  I  paused  and  looked  back,  listening  to  their 
angry  voices ;  for  the  air  was  so  pure,  and  the  valley  so 
quiet,  that  I  could  hear  most  of  the  shouting.  I  saw  the 
men  shake  their  fists  at  the  woman  as  they  aurrounded  her ; 
but  she  met  them  defiantly,  and  did  not  appear  to  shrink 
from  the  responsibility  which  she  had  incurred. 

"  AVhere  is  the  prisoner  ? "  I  could  hear  them  roar. 

I  glanced  at  the  heavens.  In  one  hour  the  sun  would  set, 
and  darkness  would  cover  the  valley.  I  had  no  fear  of  being 
taken  in  the  night  time  ;  so  when  the  bushrangers  ran  down 
the  side  of  the  mountain  towards  the  brook,  the  spot  where 
I  was  last  seen,  I  turned  and  entered  the  woods  in  a  leisurely 
manner,  and  commenced  my  journey  towards  the  Lodden. 

But  the  bushrangers  were  better  woodsmen  than  I  had 
anticipated.     They  struck  my  trail,  and  followed  on  throu^J; 


THE   PURSUIT.  16^ 

the  tall  grass  ;  but  on  entering  the  Black  Forest  thej  found 
themselves  at  fault.  My  footprints  could  not  be  easily  seen 
or  marked ;  so  the  rascals  were  compelled  to  follow  me  at  a 
slow  pace,  while  I  pushed  on  as  rapidly  as  possible ;  and 
just  at  dusk,  when  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  a  man 
from  a  kangaroo  ten  rods  off,  I  entered  the  valley,  struck 
the  little  stream  that  meandered  through  it,  took  a  hearty 
pull  at  its  waters,  and  then  continued  my  journey  until  T 
found  that  I  had  struck  dangerous  ground ;  for  on  everj 
side  of  me,  as  I  advanced,  I  could  hear  the  hiss  of  a  snake, 
or  the  peculiar  noise  which  the  reptiles  make  when  wiggling 
through  dried  grass.  They  were  on  their  way  to  the  brook, 
either  to  quench  their  thirst  or  to  seek  for  food. 

On  I  went,  stumbling ^over  uneven  ground,  scrambling  out 
of  bog-holes,  and  starting  wild  dogs  from  their  prey ;  and 
at  last,  just  as  I  thought  I  should  have  to  give  up  and  rest 
until  daylight,  I  stumbled  against  a  fence.  "  Thank  God," 
I  muttered,  "  I  am  once  more  near  civilization."  I  climbed 
over  the  fence,  and  walked  forward.  I  found  that  I  was  on 
cultivated  land  :  that  trees  were  set  out  with  some  order  and 
regularity ;  and  at  last  I  concluded  that  I  was  in  an  orchard 
of  some  kind,  and,  consequently,  could  not  be  far  from  a 
farm-house  and  the  Lodden.  I  walked  cautiously  forward, 
expecting  every  moment  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  house  and 
outbuildings.  I  was  not  disappointed,  for  through  the  trees 
I  saw  a  white  building,  covered  with  paint  or  whitewash ; 
and  the  instant  I  caught  sight  of  it  a  dog  seemed  to  have 
notice  i  me  ;  for  I  heard  an  angry  growl,  a  deep,  loud  bay, 
and  then  a  brute  came  rushing  towards  me,  as  thangh  desir- 
ous of  making  a  meal  of  my  precious  carcass. 


162  THE  BUSHRANGEKd. 


CHAPTER    XXm. 

k    POOR   SHOT. A   FREED    EIJGITIVE. AN    OLD   rRlEND.— 

THE    KISS    OF    "VVELCOME. 

I  THOUGHT  what  I  should  do  to  save  my  life.  If  I  made  a 
fight  it  was  extremely  probable  that  I  should  come  off  second 
best,  for  there  were  at  least  seven  or  eight  dogs,  and  I  only 
had  six  shots  in  my  revolver ;  and  in  the  hurry  of  firing 
I  could  not  kill  at  every  shot,  and  a  miss  was  death.  I 
thought  of  all  these  things  in  a  calm  manner,  while  the 
dogs  were  yelling  and  searching  for  me ;  but  while  I  thought 
I  acted,  for  through  the  gloom  I  saw  a  huge  brute  leading 
the  pack,  bounding  along  at  a  pace  that  proved  to  me  how 
little  show  I  should  have  if  I  attempted  to  run  away,  or 
trusted  to  my  legs  for  safety.  "  Ow !  ow ! "  howled  the 
leader  of  the  pack ;  and  the  others  repeated  the  cry,  and 
oaught  sight  of  me  at  the  same  time. 

The  music  they  made  just  at  that  moment  was  far  from 
agreeable,  and  it  accelerated  my  motions.  I  made  a  spring 
for  a  branch  just  over  my  head,  and  landed  in  the  crotch 
of  the  tree.  I  was  none  too  soon,  for  the  hound  which 
I  had  noticed  made  the  most  savage  noise,  gave  a  spring 
after  me,  and  came  very  near  taking  a  bite  at  one  of  my 
legs,  and  all  the  others  followed  his  example;  but  I  as- 
cended the  tree  a  little  higher,  and  was  safe. 

There  were  nine  dogs,  four  of  them  hounds,  and  ths 
others  mastiffs,  all  large  and  all  savage  ;  so,  when  I  looked 
down  at  them,  and  spoke  to  them,  the  rage  which  they  ex- 
pressed was  fearful.  But  there  was  one  dog  that  did  not 
manifest  such  a  desire  to  tear  me  to  pieces  after  the  first 
wild  spring.  It  was  the  huge  stag-hound  that  had  led  the 
way  towards  the  spot  where  I  stood,  and  had  made  the  wild 
spring  at  one  of  my  feet.  This  dog  seemed  to  act  very 
strangely.  He  sat  on  his  haunches  at  the  foot  of  the  tree, 
looking  up  at  me,  his  head  on  one  side,  as  though  he  did  not 


A  POOR  SHOT.  i63 

hear  very  perfectly,  and  wanted  a  little  proaiptiiig  ;  and 
although  the  rest  of  the  dogs  did  not  relent  in  their  expres- 
sions of  Hostility,  this  old  fellow  paid  no  attention  to  them, 
but  glanced  at  me,  and  even  wagged  his  tail,  rather  slightly, 
however,  as  though  not  over-confident  in  his  anticipations. 
After  I  was  securely  perched  in  the  top  of  the  tree,  —  not  a 
high  one  by  any  means,-— I  amused  myself  by  talking  with 
the  dogs  ;  but  the  more  I  talked,  the  more  enraged  tlie 
brutes  grew,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  stately  old 
hound,  who  uttered  subdued  growls,  stood  on  his  hind  legs, 
and  snuffed  at  my  feet,  or  near  as  he  could  reach  them.  At 
last  the  noble  animal  seemed  to  be  wearied  with  the  con- 
tinual noise  which  was  heard  on  all  sides ;  so  with  a  quiet 
dignity,  which  was  somewhat  unexpected,  he  turned  upon 
his  companions,  gave  two  or  three  of  them  a  severe  shaking, 
and  that  started  the  rest  in  full  retreat,  although  about  two 
rods  from  the  tree  they  stopped  and  uttered  a  chorus  of 
howls  at  such  treatment. 

"  Why,  old  dog,  what  is  the  matter  with  you  ? "  I  asked. 
"Do  3^ou  want  to  eat  me  alone  ?  For  shame,  at  such 
greediness.  My  old  dog  Eover  would  not  have  served  me 
in  that  manner.  He  was  a  sensible  animal,  and  knew  a 
friend  from  a  foe." 

While  I  was  speaking,  the  animal  at  the  foot  of  the  tree 
appeared  to  listen  most  intently,  as  though  each  word  that  I 
uttered  was  of  value,  and  when  I  had  concluded,  the  brute 
seemed  frantic  with  rage,  or  some  other  feeling,  and  jumped 
round  the  tree  in  the  most  astonishing  manner,  and  once  or 
twice  I  feared  that  he  would  find  a  lodgment  in  the  forks  of 
the  tree.  But  the  noise  which  the  dogs  made  began  to  at- 
tract attention,  as  1  supposed  it  would.  I  could  see,  through 
the  trees,  lights  flash  from  the  windows  of  the  house,  as 
though  the  people  who  inhabited  it  were  alarmed,  and  about 
to  commence  an  investigation  ;  and  after  a  short  time  I 
heard  voices,  and  then  some  one  took  aim  at  the  tops  of 
the  trees,  and  fired  a  musket.  The  ball  with  which  the  gun 
was  loaded,  tore  through  the  branches,  and  whizzed  within  a 
tod  of  my  head,  much  to  my  disgust.     The  dogs  yelled  with 

12 


164  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

deliglit  at  the  sound  of  tlie  gun,  and  pressed  towards  my  re. 
treat ;  but  the  hound,  which  still  remained  near  me,  turned 
upon  them,  and  drove  them  back  in  a  savage  manner,  and 
Iny  down  at  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  and  seemed  to  wait  for 
further  developments.  I  heard  men  moving  near  the 
house,  and  I  listened  to  hear  what  they  had  to  say  for 
themselves. 

They  were  discussing  the  best  means  of  finding  out  ho\? 
the  noise  originated.  I  had  half  a  mind  to  shout  for  assist- 
ance, and  make  an  explanation  of  my  presence  ;  but  when  1 
recollected  that  it  would  take  some  time  and  trouble  to  clear 
up  matters  and  prove  that  I  was  an  honest  man,  I  gave  up 
the  attempt,  and  waited  for  daylight  —  and  I  did  not  have 
long  to  wait,  for  from  the  east  came  a  flood  of  light  that 
gradually  rendered  objects  more  and  more  distinct,  until  at 
last  I  could  see  house  and  outbuildings,  dogs,  and  other 
domesticated  animals.  The  dogs  were  still  near  me,  silent 
and  sullen,  as  though  perfectly  contented  to  bide  their 
time. 

The  huge  hound  lay  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  looking  at  me 
with  a  wishful  glance,  and  wagging  his  tail  every  time  I 
moved.  The  rest  of  the  pack  kept  at  a  respectful  distance. 
I  heard  no  more  voices  until  nearly  sunrise,  and  then  men 
assembled  in  front  of  the  house,  and  talked  over  what  had 
occurred  an  hour  or  two  previous.  Two  of  them  still  in- 
sisted that  bushrangers  were  lurking  near,  and  one  of  them, 
to  test  the  matter,  came  towards  the  tree  upon  which  I 
roosted,  but  in  a  sly  manner.  The  dogs  went  to  meet  him, 
with  the  exception  of  the  hound,  which  stuck  to  me.  I  had 
a  good  chance  to  look  at  the  fellow  as  he  came  towards  me 
with  a  gun  in  his  hand.  He  was  a  thick-headed  Englishman, 
stout  and  brawny,  with  about  as  much  intelligence  in  his  face 
as  a  well-trained  monkey.  When  the  fellow  had  arrived 
within  a  rod  or  two  of  me,  I  said,  "  Hello,  you,  sir !  " 

The  ciown  started,  looked  up  at  the  tree,  and  before  1 
could  add  another  word,  he  raised  his  gun  and  fired.  The 
buckshot  with  which  it  was  loaded  whistled  near  my  head, 
cut  off  a  limb  or  two,  a  handful  of  leaves,  but  left  me  unin- 


A   FREED   FUGITIVE.  I6l 

jured.  The  fellow,  luckily  for  me,  shut  his  eyes  when  he 
pulled  the  trigger,  and  thus  I  escaped.  The  clown  did  not 
stop  to  see  what  damage  he  had  done,  for  he  turned  ab- 
ruptly, ran  towards  the  house,  and  yelled,  "  I've  killed  & 
bushranger  !     I've  killed  a  bushranger  !  " 

*'  Are  you  sure  that  he's  dead  ? "  asked  a  voice  which 
seemed  familiar  to  me,  although  I  could  not  imagine  wheie 
I  had  heard  it,  though  I  tried  to  recollect. 

"  0,  dom,  I  seed  him  tumble  down  jist  like  a  calf.  1 
dropped  him.     But  come  and  see  for  yerself." 

So  I  could  hear  the  household  making  preparations  for 
testing  the  truth  of  the  man's  statement.  The  women  de- 
clared they  would  not  go,  and  that  the  men  should  not  move, 
and  then  instantly  changed  their  minds,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  and  declared  that  they  would  not  stay  behind  and  be 
murdered  by  the  rascally  bushrangers. 

"  0,  but  I  killed  him  dead,  mum,"  cried  the  confident 
Joe  ;  and  then  I  heard  them  approach  the  tree  upon  which  I 
was  perched.  If  the  dogs  had  not  been  within  a  short  dis- 
tance of  me,  I  would  have  slid  down  and  run,  for  I  did  not 
want  to  disgrace  the  too  confiding  Joe.  But  there  was  no 
help  for  it.  I  must  meet  the  man,  and  incur  his  hostility, 
just  because  I  did  not  fall  when  he  aimed  at  me. 

*'  Come  on,"  shouted  the  valiant  Joe.  "  Here's  the  budy 
jist  at  tne  fut  of  the  tree." 

"  I  think  you  are  mistaken,"  I  remarked  ;  and  the  instant 
that  I  ppoke  the  party  uttered  a  scream,  —  at  least  the  wo- 
men did,  —  and  turned  towards  the  house. 

"  The  man's  alive,"  groaned  the  person  whom  I  took  to 
he  the  owner  of  the  farm. 

"  No,  dom  it,  it's  another  of  the  villains.  I'll  hit  him. 
The  fust  one  is  down,  and  the  second  one  soon  will  be." 

"  HTold  on  for  one  moment,"  I  shouted.  "  Come  near  me, 
and  see  that  I'm  no  bushranger.  Here,  look  up  into  the 
tree." 

"  How  many  of  you  are  there  in  the  tree  ? "  asked  the 
leader  of  the  party. 

"  I'm  alone." 


166  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Do  you  speak  the  truth  ?"  asked  one  of  the  ladies,  with 
a  glance  at  the  house  as  though  half  inclined  to  run. 

"  Do  you  think  I  would  deceive  so  amiable  a  lady  as  your- 
self?" I  asked. 

That  little  speech  settled  her  business  most  completely. 

"  I  don't  think  he's  a  bad  man,"  the  woman  remarked  to 
her  husband.  "  Let  us  go  and  talk  with  him.  See,  the 
dear  old  hound  does  not  manifest  the  least  sign  of  anger." 

"  Come  down,"  said  the  farmer,  whose  voice  sounded 
familiar. 

"  Call  off  your  dogs,  and  I  will,"  I  answered. 

The  dogs  were  called  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree  and 
driven  away,  and  then  I  descended  with  as  much  dignity  as 
I  could,  considering  there  were  two  ladies  watching  all  my 
movements,  and  commenting  on  them.  Mother  Brown's 
outer  garment  was  on  my  head,  where  I  had  kept  it  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  mosquitos  at  bay;  consequently  my 
face  was  not  seen  until  I  touched  the  ground ;  and  when  1 
did,  the  huge  hound,  whose  attention  had  been  marked, 
made  a  spring  for  my  neck ;  and  such  was  his  impetuosity, 
that  I  was  thrown  down,  and  expected  to  have  my  flesh  torn 
in  a  terrible  manner;  but  instead  of  such  treatment,  the 
animal  licked  my  face  and  hands,  and  seemed  overjoyed  to 
see  me. 

*'  Rover,  come  here,"  shouted  the  farmer.  "  The  dog 
will  kill  the  poor  fellow." 

At  the  sound  of  that  name  I  recollected  in  an  instant  the 
reason  of  the  dog's  extraordinary  behavior.  The  animal 
knew  me  much  better  than  I  did  him,  and  even  in  the  dark 
he  had  recognized  my  voice,  although  we  had  not  met  for 
several  years.  At  length  I  was  enabled  to  gain  my  feet  and 
look  around.  I  saw  that  the  ladies  were  somewhat  surprised 
at  what  had  passed,  and  that  the  bluff,  farmer-like  person 
who  led  the  party  was  staring  at  me  with  two  gray  eyes  ex- 
tended  to  their  utmost  dimensions. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  yelled  the  yellow-haired,  freckled-faced 
farmer,  his  eyes  rolling  as  though  their  owner  was  in  danger 
of  expjriiiig  in  a  St. 


THE    KISS   OF  WELCOME.  161 

**  Husband  !  "  shrieked  the  lady ;  "  O,  what  is  the  mat- 
i;er?" 

"  Jack  !  "  cried  the  farmer,  with  outstretched  Land.  He 
smiled  as  he  spoke,  and  then  I  knew  him. 

"  Smith  !  "  I  exclaimed,  and  rushed  towards  him. 

The  farmer  threw  his  arms  around  me,  pressed  me  tc  his 
heart,  raised  me  from  the  ground,  and  then  suddenly 
dropped  me,  and  rushed  towards  his  wife.  Seizing  her  hand, 
he  drao-g^ed  her  towards  me,  much  to  the  poor  woman's  sur- 
prise, while  her  companion  appeared  to  regard  Smith  in  tho 
light  of  a  jolly  lunatic. 

"  Wife,"  cried  the  enthusiastic  Smith,  placing  her  directly 
in  front  of  me,  "  put  your  arms  around  this  gentleman's 
neck  and  kiss  him." 

The  poor  woman  looked  a  little  startled  at  such  a  com- 
mand, and  began  to  think  that  her  husband  was  hopelessly 
insane. 

"  Kiss  him,"  roared  Smith. 

"  But,  husband,"  the  wife  said,  "  only  think  what  you  are 
asking  me  to  do." 

'*  Wife,"  cried  the  farmer,  "  you  have  heard  me  say  that 
to  two  Americans  I  owe  all  my  happiness,  all  my  property, 
even  my  life.  This  is  one  of  the  men.  Now  will  you  kiss 
him?" 

The  woman,  with  a  most  grateful  look,  threw  her  arms 
around  my  neck  and  kissed  me  on  each  cheek.  As  she  was 
a  good-looking  woman  I  just  retaliated  by  kissing  her  on 
her  lips,  and  then  released  her. 

"Kiss  the  other  one  —  my  wife's  sister,"  cried  Smith. 

I  had  no  objections,  not  in  the  least,  for  the  girl  was  a 
splendid  specimen  of  English  blood,  with  blue  eyes,  brown 
hail,  clear  skin,  and  plump  form.  I  advanced  a  pace  for 
the  purpose  of  saluting  her ;  but  the  gypsy,  with  a  coquet- 
tish laugh,  turned  on  her  heel  and  fled  towards  the  house. 

"  Stop  !  "  roared  Smith. 

The  girl  paid  no  attention  to  him. 

"If  you  don't  stop  you  shall  never  have  a  hnsband!" 
rc'ied  the  farmer. 


168  THE  BUSHRANGEilS. 

At  this  terrible  threat  the  young  lady  suddenly  stopped, 
looked  at  us  with  a  gaucy  glance,  and  then  turned  and  ran 
towards  the  house,  laughing  in  a  jolly  manner,  as  though  she 
would  like  to  see  me  kiss  her,  or  any  other  man  attempt  it. 

"  Come  to  the  house,"  said  Smith,  as  soon  as  he  could 
gain  breath  after  his  welcome.  "  You  need  some  breakfast, 
and  a  change  of  clothing.     Come." 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

AJf    AL'STKALIAN    FAKMER's    EXPERIENCE.  HIS    WIFE    AND 

FAMILY. BUSHRANGERS    IN    PURSITIT. BARRICADED. 

As  we  walked  towards  the  house,  it  seemed  as  though 
Smith  could  not  control  his  joy ;  while  his  wife  looked  a  little 
thoughtful  as  she  witnessed  the  demonstrations  of  her  husband. 

"  To  think  that  we  should  see  you  of  all  persons  in  the 
world,"  Smith  said. 

"  But  tell  me  how  it  happens  that  you  are  in  such  a 
plight  ?  Why  are  your  clothes  soiled,  and  how  came  you 
in  a  tree  instead  of  the  house  ?     You  knew  where  I  lived." 

"  No,  I  didn't,"  I  answered,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  hadn't  the 
slightest  idea  that  you  were  residing  within  a  hundred  miles 
of  me.  I  was  shaping  my  course  for  the  Lodden  as  fast  as 
possible,  when  I  tumbled  against  your  orchard  fence,  and 
from  the  fence  I  went  to  a  tree  to  escape  from  the  fangs  of 
your  dogs,  for  all  appeared  desirous  of  tasting  my  flesh,  with 
the  single  exception  of  Rover,  and  his  conduct  was  so 
strange  that  I  did  not  know  what  to  make  of  it." 

"  Ah,  he's  a  noble  dog,"  remarked  Smith ;  "  but  I  sup- 
pose, now  that  you  have  returned  to  the  country,  that  I  can 
no  longer  claim  him  as  my  own." 

'*  We  will  settle  that  question  by  and  by,"  I  replied. 
"  Ah,  here  is  the  house.  Why,  what  a  pleasant  place  you 
have  secured  for  yourself  and  family !  This  is  indeed  a  home, 
and  has  the  comforts  of  one.     A  man  must  be  happy  here." 


AN   AUSTRALIAN   FARMER'S  EXPERIENCE.  169 

**  We  should  be,"  Mrs.  Smith  said,  "  if  the  country  was 
free  of  bushrangers ;  but  the  wretches  bother  us  to  death. 
They  rob  our  orchards  and  gardens,  kill  our  sheep  and 
wound  our  cattle,  and  if  we  venture  to  remonstrate,  they 
threaten  to  burn  our  house  and  murder  us.  What  can  we  do  ? "' 

"  In  our  day,"  Smith  cried,  rubbing  his  hands  at  the  rec- 
ollection of  such  stirring  times,  "  we  never  gave  the  i-ascals 
a  chance  to  threaten  ;  we  chased  them  from  point  to  point, 
and  gave  them  no  rest.  Ah,  those  were  glorious  days,  were 
they  not  ?  If  Murden  had  a  command,  we  should  soon  be 
free  from  the  presence  of  bushrangers." 

"  He  has  a  command,"  I  answered,  "  and  is  near  us  ;  but 
where  I  can't  tell.  I  got  separated  from  him  a  few  days 
since,  and  that  separation  nearly  cost  me  my  life.  I  am  in 
hope  of  meeting  him  and  his  command  in  the  course  of  a  few 
hours,  and  then  we'll  sweep  the  bushrangers  beyond  the 
Lodden." 

"  And  will  you  give  me  a  chance  with  you  ?  "  demanded 
Smith,  in  an  earnest  tone. 

I  glanced  at  his  wife's  face,  and  saw  that  it  expressed  her 
heart's  fears. 

"No,"  I  said,  "we  want  no  married  men.  They  should 
remain  at  home  and  attend  to  their  families.  You  have  done 
your  share  of  work.     Leave  us  single  men  to  complete  it." 

"  Perhaps  your  friend  would  like  to  change  his  clothes," 
Mrs.  Smith  said  to  her  husband.  "  I  am  sure  you  can  fur- 
nish him  a  suit,  such  as  it  is." 

"  To  be  sure  I  can.     Come  this  way." 

While  I  was  dressing,  my  old  friend  told  me  all  that  had 
tranppired  during  my  absence  from  Australia ;  and  we  were 
still  conversing  when  Mrs.  Smith  interrupted  us  with  the  in- 
formation that  breakfast  was  ready. 

As  I  entered  the  room  I  saw  that  both  women  looked  at 
me  quite  sha'i-p,  to  see  what  effect  clean  clothes  and  soap  and 
water  had  on  my  appearance.  Although  my  garments  were 
far  from  fitting  me,  yet  I  looked  well  enough  in  them  to 
[)lease  the  ladies,  for  they  exchanged  glances,  as  much  as  to 
Bay,  "  He'll  do  ;  "  and  then  it  struck  me  that  Mrs.  Smith  was 


170  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

more  than  ever  convinced  that  T  woukl  make  a  sidiablc 
match  for  her  sister.  I  thought  that  the  latter,  as  she 
took  her  place  at  the  breakfast  table,  was  more  attractive 
than  the  married  lady,  for  she  looked  fresh,  plump,  and 
young,  not  being  more  than  eighteen  years  of  age.  It  must 
be  confessed  that  Smith  knew  how  to  entertain  his  guests 
i^ith  genuine  English  hospitality.  He  had  on  the  table 
broiled  duck  (the  creeks  and  streams  of  Australia  abound 
^Uli  water  fowl),  fried  eggs,  cold  chicken,  toast,  and  excel- 
lent coffee,  while  the  butter  was  as  fresh  and  hard  as  the 
best  that  comes  from  Vermont. 

"  I  tell  you  what,"  said  Smith,  as  we  took  our  places  at 
the'  table,  *'  this  is  different  fare  from  what  we  used  to  get 
when  we  were  stalking  bushrangers." 

"  Pray  don't  allude  to  those  days,"  said  the  wife  ;  "  I 
have  heard  enough  of  them.  I  expect  every  hour  that  you 
will  start  off  on  a  tramp." 

*'  Well,"  replied  Smith,  "  I  don't  know  but  I  should  like 
it.  There  was  some  life  and  excitement  in  the  danger,  after 
all.  Don't  you  think  so  ? "  and  he  nodded  his  head  to- 
wards me. 

"  We  never  understood  how  much  real  danger  there  was 
until  after  the  excitement  was  over.  Now,  for  instance,  we 
often — " 

I  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  Joe,  the  genius  who 
had  fired  at  me  and  missed  while  I  was  perched  in  the  tree. 
The  fellow  was  laboring  under  some  excitement,  for  his  face 
was  flushed,  and  his  eyes  looked  as  large  as  saucers. 

"  They  is  comin',"  he  cried.     "  I  seed  'em." 

"  Who  are  coming  ? "  asked  Smith. 

"  The  bushrangers." 

We  all  jumped  from  the  table,  and  the  ladies  began  t» 
scream,  as  was  to  be  expected  from  them. 

"  We  shall  be  murdered ! "  they  cried,  and  then  com- 
menced kissing  the  baby's  nose ;  and  as  they  were  under 
some  excitement  at  the  time,  of  course  it  was  communicated 
to  the  child;  so  the  young  one  joined  his  lungs  to  the 
women's,  and  for  -^  moment  we  had  lively  mutic. 


BUSHRANGERS   IN   PURSUIT.  171 

I  led  the  way  to  the  piazza,  where  we  could  commrtnd  a 
new  of  the  valley,  the  same  one  which  I  had  stumbled 
through  the  night  before,  and  there  we  saw  ten  horsemen 
approaching  the  house  at  a  gallop.  At  first  I  thought  it  waa 
Murden  and  his  party,  and  I  was  delighted  at  the  idea  of 
meeting  the  commissioner  and  Hezekiah  Hopeful,  my  New 
Himpshire  friend,  who,  no  doubt,  thought  me  dead ;  but  a 
careful  scrutiny  did  not  reveal  the  blue  cocts  and  bright  but- 
tons of  the  police. 

"  Smith,"  I  said,  "  those  fellows  are  bushrangers,  and 
they  are  in  pursuit  of  me." 

'*  Well,"  answered  Smith,  with  a  touch  of  the  old  times  in 
his  air,  "  let  'em  come  on.  We'll  show  'em  that  we  hasn't 
forgot  how  to  shoot." 

"  But  there  are  ten  of  them." 

"  And  we  can  muster  but  four,"  answered  the  farmer. 
"  The  odds  ain't  so  much,  arter  all.  Bob,  get  the  rifles  out 
of  the  bedroom,  and  muster  all  of  the  ammunition.  Where's 
Moloch  ? " 

"  He's  set  the  natives  to  drivin'  off  the  stock.  He'll  be 
here  in  a  minute." 

"  Is  it  not  better,"  I  asked,  '*  that  I  should  leave  the 
house,  and  take  to  the  bush  ?  There's  yet  time  for  me.  By 
that  means  you  will  escape  all  trouble  and  damage." 

"  You  stay  here,  beneath  the  shelter  of  my  roof,"  cried 
Smith,  "  and  as  long  as  I  has  one,  you  is  welcome  to  it. 
We  will  make  a  stand  if  they  is  disposed  to  fight,  and  see 
which  party  can  hit  the  hardest.     Do  you  mind  that  ? " 

Just  at  this  moment  Moloch  made  his  appearance.  H« 
had  been  running,  and  was  out  of  breath. 

"  Have  the  natives  driven  off  the  horses  and  cattle  ?  '* 
asked  Smith. 

"  Yes  ;  they  is  all  in  the  bush  by  this  time." 

"  Then  come  in." 

"First  close  the  doors  of  the  stable,  and  fasten  them,"  1 
said. 

*'  That  can  be  done  on  the  inside.  We  can  reach  tht 
stable  from  the  house." 


172  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

•*  So  much  the  better.  You  have  outside  shutters  to  youi 
windows,  have  you  not  ?  " 

"  Yes,  of  course.  During  some  of  our  gales  glass  stands 
no  show  in  keeping  the  wind  out." 

"  Then  close  the  shutters,  but  do  it  carefully,  so  that  the 
bushrangers  will  not  notice  the  act." 

"  And  the  women  and  baby,  what  shall  we  do  with  them  ?  " 
loked  Smith. 

"  Put  them  down  cellar,  and  tell  them  to  keep  as  quiet  as 
pjssible." 

Away  went  Smith  to  conduct  his  wife  and  her  sister  to  a 
safe  place,  while  Moloch  closed  the  shutters,  and  Joe  brought 
me  the  rifles  and  pistols  found  in  Smith's  bedroom.  As 
soon  as  I  had  examined  the  firearms,  I  looked  for  the  bush- 
rongers,  and  saw  that  they  were  near  the  orchard  fence,  had 
halted,  and  were  consulting  together,  as  though  devising  the 
best  means  for  capturing  the  house  and  contents. 

"  Good,"  I  thought.  "  Only  give  us  a  few  moments  to 
prepare,  and  we'll  be  ready  to  receive  you  in  a  becoming 
manner." 

"  Shall  I  load  the  guns  ?  "  asked  Joe,  as  he  laid  a  pile  of 
ammunition  on  the  table  near  me. 

"  Yes,  and  be  sure  that  you  aim  better  than  when  you 
fired  at  me.  We  must  waste  neither  time  nor  shot  in  cafre 
we  are  attacked." 

*'  Then  I  won't  shut  my  eyes  when  I  pull  the  trigger," 
Joe  remarked,  with  a  grin  that  showed  his  capacious  mouth 
to  its  fullest  extent.     Just  at  this  moment,  Smith  joined  us. 

"  Here  comes  the  devils,"  he  cried,  "  and  that  big  devil 
of  a  Keeler  is  at  their  head." 

I  looked  out  and  saw  that  such  was  the  case.  They  had 
thrown  down  the  fence,  and  were  galloping  through  the 
orchard. 

"  Shall  I  give  'em  a  shot  ? "  whispered  Smith.  "  I  can 
Idt  one  of  'em  as  easy  as  I  could  take  a  drink." 

"  No ;  let  them  commence  hostilities.  We  shan't  have 
to  wait  long." 


A  SKIRMISH   WITH   THE   BUSHRANGERS.  175 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

k    SKIRMISH    WITH    THE    BUSHRANGERS. OIJIl    DEFENCE.    - 

ATTEMPT    TO    EITRN    THE    HuIJSE. 

As  the  rascals  dismounted,  I  saw,  to  my  intense  disgiisi, 
that  among  the  horses  were  the  four  which  Keeler  had 
stolen  from  the  police,  near  Webber' =>  Rfation,  a  few  days 
before.  There  was  but  one  loop-hole  in  the  shutter,  and  my 
eyes  were  applied  to  that,  watching  the  motions  of  the  bush- 
rangers, and  calculating  our  strength  and  the  strength  of  the 
robbers,  when  Smith  whispered,  — 

' '  What  is  they  doin'  now  ?  Can't  you  give  me  a  chance 
at  'em  ?     Let  me  see  what  they  is  up  to." 

"  Keep  quiet,"  I  replied,  "  or  you  will  spoil  all  my  plans ; " 
just  as  though  I  had  a  plan,  which  I  had  not,  for  I  intended 
to  be  governed  by  circumstances. 

This  kept  all  of  them  quiet  until  Keeler  reached  the 
door.  He  tried  to  open  it,  but  found  that  it  was  fastened 
on  the  inside  ;  and  although  the  brawny  robber  put  his  shoul- 
der to  the  door,  yet  he  could  not  move  it  in  the  least,  for 
three  good  oak  bars  were  across  it  in  addition  to  a  bolt. 

"  You  d — d  mean  Englishman,"  roared  the  fellow,  "  show 
your  red  face,  and  tell  us  where  that  rascally  spy  is  con- 
cealed. He's  in  your  house  ;  so  you  had  better  give  him  up. 
It  will  be  all  the  better  for  you." 

No  reply  was  made  to  this  demand,  although  Smith  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  shoot  some  one  in  short  order. 

"  They  have  all  run  for  it,"  said  the  young  bushranger, 
who  had  assisted  me  to  escape. 

No,"  replied  Keeler,  with  a  terrible  oath,  *'  they  are  in 
the  house.  Do  you  not  see  the  smoke  from  the  chimney  ? 
They  are  in  there,  and  must  come  out."  And  then  the  fel- 
low raised  his  voice  and  shouted,  "  Smith,  you  beer-drinking 
vagabond,  if  you  don't  give  us  that  spy,  I'll  take  your  pretty 
wifs  and  sister  and — " 


174  THE   BUSHRANGEKS. 

"  Give  me  a  chance  at  the  devil,"  cried  my  old  friend, 
rendered  perfectly  frantic  at  the  threat.  '*  He  shall  nevei 
live  to  repeat  those  words  !  " 

*'  Keep  cool,"  I  whispered.  **  Go  into  the  next  room,  and 
get  ready  for  a  shot.  Pick  your  man,  and  make  sure  of 
him.  Let  Joe  and  Moloch  do  the  same.  We  can't  touch 
Keeler,  for  he  is  screened  by  the  house  ;  but  we  can  reach 
hi3  gang.  Now,  then,  be  lively,  and  let  me  know  when  you 
are  ready." 

*'  I  am  ready,"  cried  Smith,  a  few  minutes  afterwards. 

"  Aim  carefully,"  I  said ;  "  but  don't  harm  that  young, 
careless-looking  fellow  with  the  red  shirt.  He  has  shown 
me  a  kindness,  and  I'll  repay  it." 

"  Why,  that  is  the  one  I  was  arter,"  cried  Joe,  in  a  tone 
of  surprise. 

"  Then  keep  aimin'  at  him,  'cos  he'll  be  safe  enough," 
chuckled  Smith. 

Just  then  I  had  a  fair  mark,  and  I  gave  the  word  to  fire. 
Four  guns  were  discharged ;  but  only  two  men  fell,  shot 
through  the  breast.  I  had  no  doubt  that  Joe  and  Moloch 
had  missed ;  for  I  was  certain  of  my  aim,  and  Smith,  I  knew, 
was  a  fair  marksman. 

"  We  have  waked  'em  up,"  cried  Keeler,  in  a  calm  tone, 
as  though  nothing  unusual  had  happened ;  and  then  the  fellow 
gave  a  bound,  and  took  shelter  behind  a  tree,  while  every 
bushranger  disappeared  from  sight  as  suddenly  as  though 
swallowed  by  the  earth,  leaving  the  two  bodies  of  the  dead 
exposed  to  view,  lying  upon  their  backs,  with  their  glazed 
eyes  glaring  at  the  tun. 

"Have  we  licked  'em?"  asked  Smith,  as  he  entered  the 
room  where  I  was  reconnoitring  through  the  loop-hole. 

*'  No,  the  rascals  will  seek  for  revenge.  They  have  net 
j^et  got  enoTigh  of  it." 

At  that  moment  I  saw  one  of  the  bushrangers  leave  the 
shelter  of  the  orchard,  and  advance  towards  the  house,  waving 
at  the  same  time  a  white  flag. 

"  What  is  wanted  ? "  I  asked,  and  opened  the  shutter  a 
1  ttle,  so  that  I  could  converse  more  freely. 


OUR  DEFENCE.  176 

"The  captain  of  our  gang,"  the  bushranger  replied,  "  ia 
nnxious  t )  save  blood  and  respect  the  property  of  the  stock- 
man who  lives  here.  He  has,  therefore,  directed  me  to 
make  this  proposition :  to  throw  open  your  doors  and  admit 
his  men,  and  surrender  the  spy  who  has  taken  refuge  under 
your  roof.  By  complying  with  these  demands,  you  will  be 
left  in  peace." 

"  And  in  case  of  refusal  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Then  your  buildings  will  be  burned,  and  your  stock 
driven  off,  your  wife  and  sister  outraged,  and  your  grounds 
laid  waste." 

"  These  are  hard  conditions,"  I  remarked. 

*'  We  have  no  others  to  give." 

The  bushranger  was  about  to  turn  away,  but  stopped  and 
asked,  "  Can  I  remove  these  two  bodies  ?" 

"  Yes,  take  them  away.  You  will  have  to  remove  others 
if  you  make  an  attack." 

The  bushrangers  were  too  shrewd  to  dash  against  the 
house  and  end  their  lives  without  accomplishing  certain  re- 
sults, and  I  knew  that  Keeler  was  too  able  a  chieftain  to  ex- 
pose his  men  in  an  unnecessary  manner.  Although  he  cared 
nothing  for  their  lives,  or  how  much  blood  was  shed,  still  he 
knew  that  it  was  hard  work  to  recruit  his  gang  with  proper 
men  ;  so  he  had  no  desire  to  lose  what  he  had.  But  I  had 
hardly  closed  my  shutter  and  stepped  back,  anticipating  what 
would  occur,  than  a  shower  of  bullets  struck  the  window, 
and  sent  a  number  of  splinters  into  the  apartment.  For 
fifteen  minutes  the  bushrangers  remained  so  quiet  that  Smith 
began  to  think  they  had  gone  ;  but  I  knew  better. 

"  Moloch,"  I  said,  "  go  to  the  other  end  of  the  house,  and 
see  if  you  can  discover  what  the  bushrangers  are  doing  in  that 
quarter.     Mind  and  not  let  them  obtain  a  glimpse  of  you." 

"  No  fear  of  that,"  responded  the  man,  and  left  me. 

"  Joe,  ycu  make  your  way  tc  the  stable,  and  bring  me 
word  if  anything  is  transpiring  ia  that  quarter.  Now,  look 
sharp." 

"  Smith,'  I  said,  —  for  I  saw  that  he  was  shaking  for  the 
safety  of  his  wife,  —  "I  will  leave  the  house,  and  run  for  my 


176  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

life.  You  can  then  say  that  I  am  not  here,  and  permit  one 
or  two  of  the  bushrangers  to. search  the  buildings  to  vjrify 
the  statement.  Perhaps  that  will  satisfy  them,  and  they  wiD 
leave  you  in  peace." 

"  Jack,"  said  the  stockman,  "  I  really  believe  you'd  do  as 
you  say ;  but  I  won't  hear  of  it.  We  is  in  the  same  boat, 
old  boy,  and  we'll  sink  or  swim  together.  That's  what  we'll 
do.  We  has  seen  too  much  of  life  together  to  falter  now 
You  has  allers  stuck  by  me,  and  now  we'll  all  stick  together.' 

He  extended  his  hand  as  he  spoke,  and  we  shook  hands 
most  heartily. 

"Yes,"  I  said,  "we'll  die  together  or  defeat  the  rascals. 
As  long  as  I  have  life,  I'll  protect  the  ladies.  We  have  been 
in  worse  positions  than  this,  and  escaped." 

Just  then  Joe  returned  from  his  inspection  of  the  field 
near  the  stable. 

"  I  could  see  'em,"  he  said,  "  in  the  orchard ;  but  they 
wasn't  doing  nothin',  except  cuttin'  off  the  branches  of  a  tree 
what  they  has  tumbled  down." 

"  Ha  !  now  I  understand  their  game,  and  will  prepare  to 
check  them.     Come  with  me,  and  tread  softly,"  I  said. 

Connected  with  the  stable  and  the  house  was  a  passage- 
tvay,  covered,  to  protect  those  who  passed  from  one  building 
to  another  from  the  heavy  winter  rains.  Down  stairs  we 
went,  through  the  passage-way,  to  the  stable,  not  making  the 
least  noise  in  our  progress ;  and  after  we  had  reached  it, 
we  crept  to  the  loft  and  looked  out. 

"  What  do  they  mean  to  do  ? "  asked  Smith,  after  a  brief 
gurvey  of  the  bushrangers'  proceedings.  "  They  appear  to 
be  amusing  themselves  in  some  way." 

'*  And  they  will  amuse  us  in  a  few  minutes,  or  I'm  much 
mistaken,     ^ow,  then,  look  to  your  rifles." 

I  saw  the  rascals  raise  the  tree  which  they  had  been 
trimming,  and  direct  their  steps  towards  the  stable  door. 

"  Smith,"  I  said,  as  I  cocked  my  rifle,  "  you  take  the  man 
en  the  right,  and  I  will  take  care  of  the  chap  with  the  fero- 
cious whiskers,  on  the  left.  Moloch  and  Joe  can  fire  at  whom 
they  please." 


AN  ATTEMPT  TO  BURN  THE   HOUSE.  177 

"  All  right,"  was  the  013%  and  we  poked  our  rifles  through 
the  mud  openings,  took  deliberate  aim,  and  fired. 

The  two  foremost  bushrangers  plunged  forward,  let  go 
their  hold  of  the  piece  of  timber,  and  fell  upon  the  ground. 
face  downward.  The  joist  fell  from  the  hands  of  the  othe* 
four;  for,  of  course,  Joe  and  Moloch  missed,  as  we  sup- 
p:i5ed  they  would.  The  uninjured  men  turned,  and,  with  a 
bound,  took  shelter  behind  the  trees  in  the  orchard. 

For  half  an  hour  I  remained  in  the  stable,  watching  for 
the  bushrangers  to  make  another  dash ;  but  they  did  not.  I 
could  neither  see  nor  hear  them.  They  appeared  to  have 
left  the  orchard,  although  it  was  impossible  to  tell  if  such 
was  the  case,  for  they  were  as  crafty  as  North  American 
Indians,  and  about  as  savage.  I  had  sent  Smith  and  his 
men  to  other  parts  of  the  buildings,  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing me  informed  if  any  demonstration  was  intended  in  those 
quarters,  and  it  was  lucky  that  such  was  the  case  ;  for  Smith 
rushed  into  the  stable  with  the  information  that  the  bush- 
rangers had  appeared  at  the  back  of  the  house,  and  that 
they  were  piling  up  dry  branches  against  the  building. 

"  That  means,"  I  said,  "  that  they  intend  to  burn  us  out. 
Now  comes  our  real  danger.  Do  the  windows  command  a 
view  of  the  robbers  ?  " 

Smith  scratched  his  head  as  he  a.nswered,  "  There  ain't  no 
windows  at  the  back  part  of  the  house.  A  carpenter  who 
built  that  portion  said  that  I'd  better  not  put  'em  in,  'cos  I'd 
find  the  light  too  strong  for  my  eyes." 

"  -Vnd  you  listened  to  such  advice  ? "  I  asked. 

*'  Of  course.     I  s'posed  he  knowed  better  than  me." . 

"  Your  indifference  will  cost  us  dear,"  I  remarked.  "  If 
wo  had  windows  to  use  —  " 

"But  as  we  ain't  got  'em  we'll  have  to  do  as  well  as  wq 
can,"  replied  Smith,  with  more  spirit  than  I  ever  gave  him 
credit  for. 

"  Eight ;  so  come  with  me,  and  show  me  the  danger.  Wo 
must  try  to  overcome  it." 

He  led  the  way  to  the  back  part  of  the  houR-  - ,  but  there 
were  no  windows  for  us  to  look  through.    All  of  those  useful 


178  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

contrivances  were  in  front.  I  glanced  around  tlie  apart- 
ment, and  saw  that  it  had  been  used  us  a  store-room,  that  it 
was  adjoining  the  kitchen,  and  on  the  first  floor.  My  mind 
was  soon  made  up,  and  I  decided  upon  my  course  of  action. 
Although  I  could  not  hope  to  save  the  building,  I  coidd  pro- 
vent  the  fire  burning  very  briskly.  In  the  kitchen  was  a 
pump,  and  around  the  pump  were  half  a  dozen  wood(0 
buckets,  great  clumsy  things,  of  Australian  manufacture. 

"  Set  Joe  and  Moloch  to  pumping  water,"  I  said. 

"  For  what  purpose  r " 

"  Ask  no  questions,  but  work.  Here,  out  with  your  bowie- 
knife,  and  enlarge  this  crack.  Don't  spare  the  wood-work 
of  your  building ;  for  your  exertions  may  be  the  means  of 
saving  the  house  itself." 

Where  we  commenced  cutting  a  hole,  the  bushrangers  had 
piled  up  brush  so  high  that  our  operations  were  covered. 
Smith  and  I  were  working  hard  at  our  tasks,  when  bang, 
bang,  went  two  muskets  in  front  of  us,  and  the  balls  struck 
the  wood-work  of  the  house,  after  tearing  through  the  brush, 
and  entered  the  room  where  we  were  engaged.  The  rascals 
had  heard  us  operating,  and  took  that  method  of  letting  us 
know  that  they  were  awake.  No  sooner  was  our  work  com- 
pleted, than  smoke  commenced  circling  through  the  opening. 

"Bring  on  the  water!"  I  cried,  and  dashed  bucketful 
after  bucketfid  on  the  brush,  and  by  this  means  was  enabled  to 
keep  the  flames  in  check ;  but  I  saw  that  unless  we  could  work 
from  the  outside,  we  should  have  to  give  up  all  hope  of 
saving  the  house. 

"  Throw  on  the  water,  Smith,"  I  said  ;  "  I  will  return  in  a 
few  minutes." 

I  took  a  rifle  and  ascended  the  stairs,  dashed  open  one  of 
the  windows,  in  hopes  of  reaching  the  fire  or  the  bushrangers ; 
but  I  found  that  it  was  impossible,  and  for  a  moment  I  al- 
lowed my  eyes  to  wander  over  the  valley  through  which  the 
Lodden  flowed,  and  then  I  saw  something  that  made  my 
heart  bejit  fast,  and  I  could  not  repress  a  shout  of  joy  as  1 
put  my  cip  upon  the  ramrod  of  my  rifle,  and  waved  it  iu 
token  of  recognition. 


ARRIVAL  OF  MURDEN  AND  HIS  MEIS.  179 


CHAPTER   XXYI. 

tVILHIVAL  OF  MUEDEX  AND  HIS  MEN. GREAT  JOT  OF  HOPE. 

FUL. — >THE    FIRE    SUBDUED.  CHANGE    OF    MIND. 

My  expressions  of  joy  were  answered  by  some  ten  of 
iwelve  men  on  horseback,  wlio  were  aclYancing  towards  the 
house.  Yet  they  did  not  quicken  their  pace  when  they 
heard  me  cheer,  simply  because  they  supposed  that  it  was  a 
salute  of  welcome  on  the  part  of  Smith ;  for  the  men  T  was 
prepared  to  greet  with  open  arms  wore  the  uniform  cf  the 
Melbourne  police,  and  I  strongly  suspected  that  I  saw  Mur- 
den  and  his  party,  although  I  could  not  be  positive  of  it. 
Most  of  the  police  knew  Smith,  and  stopped  at  his  house 
when  they  passed  near  it.  This  I  knew,  but  I  was  in  despair 
at  the  -slow  manner  in  which  the  men  moved,  knowing  as 
they  did  what  a  generous  welcome  they  would  receive ;  so 
I  waved  my  cap,  and  yelled  for  them  to  hurry  along,  all  of 
which  they  answered  by  one  or  two  yells,  but  walked  their 
horses  as  before. 

"  Confound  them  !  "  I  muttered,  in  a  tone  of  intense  bit- 
lerness,  "  why  don't  they  dash  up  to  the  door  and  capture 
the  bushrangers  who  are  in  the  rear  of  the  house  ?  We 
sha^l  be  burned  out  before  they  reach  the  yard." 

Once  more  I  yelled  and  gesticulated  with  my  hands, 
pointing  to  the  smoke,  which  began  to  curl  around  the  roof 
of  the  Louse,  a  sure  indication  that  the  fire  was  making 
headway.  At  last  my  cries  seemed  to  attract  some  atten- 
tion. I  saw  one  of  the  party  point  with  his  hands  to  the 
smok  e,  and  then  I  saw  Murden,  —  for  I  could  now  make  him 
out,  —  turn  in  his  saddle,  and  give  an  order,  and  then  strike 
his  horse  with  his  spurs ;  and  although  the  animal  did  not 
respond  very  readily,  yet  a  rather  tame  sort  of  gallop  was 
the  result,  and  all  came  limping  towards  the  house,  as  though 
the  brutes  were  knocked  up  with  a  long  journey,  and  werG 
foot-sore  in  consequence.     Not  till  then  did  I  leave  the  Tvin- 


180  THE  BUSHRANGEKW. 

dow  and  ran  to  the  room  where  Smith  and  his  stoukmeu 
were  at  work.  The  apartment  was  filled  with  smoke,  and 
the  men  were  nibbing  their  eyes  and  damning,  instead  of 
pouring  on  water,  as  I  had  directed  when  I  left  the  room. 

"  Why  ain't  you  at  work  ? "  I  demanded,  as  soon  as  I  saw 
the  state  cf  affairs. 

"  Work  ! "  repeated  Smith,  rubbing  his  eyes,  and  cough- 
ing as  though  likely  to  burst  a  blood-vessel ;  *'  what  in  the 
devil  is  the  use  of  working  when  we  are  smoked  like  a  ham, 
and  shed  tears  like  whipped  schoolboys  ?  We  can  hardly 
breathe,  much  less  work." 

I  knew  that  it  was  useless  to  talk  with  a  man  who  had 
made  up  his  mind  that  the  house  must  burn  down ;  so  I 
seized  a  pail  of  water,  ran  to  the  door,  slipped  the  bolt,  and 
was  just  about  to  step  into  the  yard,  when  Smith  threw  his 
arms  around  me. 

"  Don't  go  there  ! "  he  cried  ;  "  you'll  be  shot  if  you  do. 
Let  the  house  burn  and  be  d — d,  but  don't  you  let  thq  bush- 
rangers kill  you.  My  wife  has  made  up  her  mind  that  you 
will  make  a  good  husband  for  her  sister,  and  I  darsen't  dis- 
appoint her." 

"  Let  him  do  it,"  growled  Moloch,  "  and  then  he  won't 
crow  no  more  round  here,"  while  Joe  offered  to  go  out  and 
."  pitch  in,"  if  the  fight  was  a  fair  one,  and  he  could  be  as- 
sured of  meeting  man  for  man,  and  no  underhanded  cutting 
with  knives,  which  he  didn't  consider  the  true  English  style 
of  fighting. 

I  dashed  at  the  fire,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  stick  was  enabled 
to  tear  some  of  the  brush  down ;  but  still  the  flames  burnej 
brightly,  and  threatened  to  give  trouble  unless  I  had  help 
>ad  a  few  buckets  of  water.     But  there  was  no  time  to  lose. 

"  Bring  me  some  water ;  "  I  yelled,  and  the  shout  was  the 
means  of  arousing  Smith  to  a  sense  of  his  duty. 

*'  I  won't  see  my  old  friend  perish  without  help,"  he  cried, 
anl  sprang  into  the  yard,  ran  to  the  back  part  of  the  house, 
saw  how  I  was  engaged,  and  after  one  ejaculation  of  "0, 
what  a  d — d  fool  I  am  !  "  ran  back  for  water. 

In  the  mean  time  the  police  had  arrived  in  the  front  yard, 


THE   FIRE   SUBDUED.  181 

ind  dismo anted,  but  found,  to  their  surprise,  that  the  dooi 
was  closed  and  locked,  and  tliat  the  window  shutters  wero 
securely  fastened.  Murden  did  not  know  what  to  make  of 
it,  and  just  as  the  men  were  about  visiting  all  the  outbuild- 
ings in  search  of  the  folks,  they  heard  me  shout  for  Sn:ith 
and  men  to  *'  come  on." 

*'  Forward  !  "  shouted  the  commissioner,  suddenly  turning 
to  his  men ;  and  at  the  word  they  struck  their  horses  and 
tore  through  the  yard,  over  flowers  and  garden  beds,  the 
pets  of  the  women,  without  the  slightest  regard  to  damages. 

I  was  busily  engaged  in  raking  down  the  brush,  when 
Hez  turned  the  corner  of  the  house  and  saw  me.  He  gave 
one  yell,  and  threw  his  arms  around  my  neck. 

"  You  is  alive  and  well !  "  he  cried  ;  and  then  he  saw  at  a 
glance  the  work  which  I  had  before  me.  He  released  his 
embrace,  and  dashed  at  the  fire  like  a  madman,  to  the  intense 
astonishment  of  Smith,  who  gazed  at  the  poor  fellow  with 
wide-expanded  eyes  and  open  mouth. 

"  If  I  had  only  time,"  muttered  Hez,  as  he  threw  the 
flaming  sticks  to  the  right  and  left,  "  I  could  make  a  machine 
what  would  squash  the  whole  thing  in  the  waggin'  of  a 
dog's  tail ;  but  as  I  ain't  got  time,  why,  I  must  make  my 
boots  do." 

Just  as  he  had  arrived  at  this  wise  conclusion,  around  the 
corner  came  Murden  and  his  troop.  The  commissioner 
comprehended  matters  at  a  glance. 

"  Dismount !  "  he  yelled ;  and  off  tumbled  his  men,  and 
rushed  towards  the  fire. 

"  Bring  water,  some  of  you  !  "  was  the  next  order  the  police 
received ;  and  without  the  least  confusion  or  delay  the  men 
Bejarated,  some  for  water,  and  some  for  long  poles  to  rake 
the  fire  from  the  house. 

Somehow  or  other  I  was  edged  away  from  the  flames,  as 
though  I  had  done  enough,  while  the  police  took  my  place, 
but  said  not  a  word  respecting  the  strange  meeting.  They 
were  too  well  drilled  for  that.  They  knew  that  with  them 
it  was  duty  first  and  questions  afterwards. 

Leaving  the  crowd  to  trample  out  the  last  vestige  of  fire^ 


182  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

I  entered  the  house,  and  found  my  way  to  the  cellar.  Dow^ 
the  steps  I  went,  feeling  my  way,  for  the  place  was  rather 
dark,  but  when  I  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  stairs  I  fell  a 
pair  of  arms  thrown  around  my  neck,  and  Miss  Amelia^s  face 
was  laid  close  to  mine  as  she  exclaimed,  — 
"  0,  brother,  is  it  all  over  with  us  ?  " 

-"  Not  quite,"  I  replied  ;  "  but  I  wish  it  was,  if  you  would 
only  keep  your  arms  around  my  neck.  I  think  that  it  is 
rery  pleasant  to  have  them  so  near  me." 

The  young  girl  uttered  a  little  scream,  and  withdrew  her 
arms. 

"  0,"  she  said,  "  I  thought  it  was  John.  Pray  forgive 
me." 

"  With  much  pleasure.  Any  time  you  wish  to  repeat  the 
affair,  I  shall  submit  without  a  murmur.  Don't  feel  ashamed 
on  my  account." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  kindness,"  she  said  in  a  tone  that 
betokened  the  least  degree  of  offended  pride,  and  by  the 
little  light  that  streamed  down  the  stairway  I  could  see  her 
toss  her  pretty  head  as  though  she  would  never  commit 
another  such  act. 

"  Do  not  be  angry,  Amelia,"  said  Mrs.  Smith,  coming  for- 
ward with  her  child  in  her  arms.  "  The  gentleman  is  not 
to  blame  for  the  embrace.  But  he  comes  to  us  with  news. 
Is  my  husband  well  ?  Do  not  tell  me  that  some  accident 
has  befallen  him.'' 

"  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  Mr.  Smith  is  uninjured, 
that  the  bushrangers  have  fled,  that  a  large  police  force  is 
near  the  house,  and  they  are  hungry  and  need  some  re- 
freshments." 

"  Heavens !  they  will  eat  us  out  of  house  and  home," 
cried  the  impetuous  Amelia.  "I  never  saw  such  gluttons 
as  those  officers  are ;  and  so  impudent,  too.  They  ilway? 
look  at  me  as  though  they  would  eat  me." 

"  You  must  regard  that  in  the  light  of  a  compliment,"  I 
said.  "  It  is  not  often  that  the  poor  fellows  see  such 
a  fresh-looking  face  as  yours ;  so  they  can't  help  staring  a 
little.     But  this  time  they  are  really  hungry." 


GREAT  JOY  OF  HOPEFJL.  188 

*'  Yes ;  I  never  saw  policemen  who  were  net  hungry. 
But  I  suj  pose  that  I  must  endure  the  men's  staring,  although 
I  wish  they  wouldn't  look  at  me  in  such  a  manner.  Is  that 
odious  commissioner  with  them  ? " 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Murden  is  with  the  force." 

"  Then  there  won't  be  much  peace  for  me.  He's  ai 
awful  tease.  I  wish  he  wouldn't  come  here.  I  suppose  1 
Qiust  see  him." 

"  Of  course,"  I  replied,  knowing  that  she  was  only  talking 
for  effect,  as  many  young  girls  do.  "  We  are  indebted  to 
him  and  his  men  for  house  and  life.  Had  he  not  come  to 
the  rescue  just  as  he  did,  we  should  have  fared  badly." 

"  But  I  thought  that  you  were  to  beat  the  fellows  off," 
Miss  Amelia  said. 

''  We  were  doing  all  that  we  could  towards  it,"  I  an- 
swered. 

"  0  !  "  and  the  young  lady  sighed,  as  though  resigned  to 
her  fate  :  "  if  that  is  the  case  I  suppose  that  I  must  endure 
the  presence  of  that  Murden  and  his  men.  But  I  hope  he 
won't  pay  me  any  compliments." 

At  the  door  I  met  Hez  and  Murden.  The  fire  was  extin- 
guished, and  they  were  wiping  their  heated  faces  after  their 
late  exertions. 

"  Only  think,"  said  Hopeful,  almost  blubbering  with  joy 
at  the  meeting,  "  I  thought  you  dead.  I'll  be  rammed, 
jammed,  and  hung  up  to  dry,  ef  I  didn't.  I  s'posed  the 
cusses  had  killed  yer,  and  then  what  would  have  come  of 
our  partnership  ?  " 

"  0,  we  should  have  re-formed  in  the  other  world,"  I 
answered. 

'•  Yes,"  laughed  Hez  ;  "  but  darn  ef  I  want  to  go  to  t'other 
world  jist  yet.  I  want  to  see  Martha  fust,  and  marry  her 
ef  I  can." 

"  And  I  hope  that  you  will  accomplish  your  designs,  for  I 
Am  sure  they  are  honest,"  I  remarked,  as  Murden  came  for* 
ward  and  gave  my  hand  a  hearty  shake. 

"  I  knew  you  would  turn  up,"  the  commissioner  said.  "  1 
did  not  give  you  up,  although  Hez   told  me   that  he  was 


184  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

certain  you  were  lost,  to  this  world.  But  where  have  yot> 
been,  and  what  is  the  occasion  of  this  fire  ? " 

"  It  means,"  I  answered,  "  that  a  few  minutes  since  Mr, 
Keeler  and  his  gang  were  near  the  house,  and  had  extended 
a  pressing  invitation  to  us  to  come  out.  We  declined ;  con- 
sequently the  rascals  fired  at  us,  and  then  fired  the  house. 
K  you  had  not  come  up  just  as  you  did,  we  should  have  ex- 
perienced hot  work,  and  perhaps  heen  browned  like  roast 
ducks." 

*•  Keeler  near  us  ?  "  cried  Murden,  in  a  state  of  intense 
agitation.  "  The  very  cuss  I'm  after.  Why  did  you  not 
say  so  before  ? "  and  the  commissioner  put  his  silver  whistle 
to  his  lips,  and  blew  a  shrill  blast,  which  brought  his  men 
around  the  corner  with  a  rush.  Lieutenant  Maurice  at  their 
head,  pistol  in  hand,  as  though  some  great  danger  threatened. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  gasped  Maurice. 

*'  Keeler  !  that  d — d  Keeler  !  "  shouted  Murden. 

"  Where  ? "  roared  the  men,  looking  in  all  directions,  and 
cocking  their  pistols. 

This  question  Murden  was  unable  to  answer ;  so  he  had  to 
look  to  me  for  the  information. 

"  The  bushrangers,"  I  said,  in  a  slow,  deliberate  tone, 
"  are  about  three  miles  from  here,  and  galloping  like  mad 
towards  the  Black  Forest." 

**  To  horse  !  "  yelled  Murden  ;  "  we  can  overtake  theui." 

The  men  rushed  for  their  animals,  which  were  tired,  and 
almost  unable  to  move  without  the  influence  of  the  spur.  I 
let  the  police  mount,  and  did  not  utter  a  word  in  opposition. 
I  sat  and  looked  at  them,  and  just  as  they  gathered  up  their 
reins,  Murden  noticed  that  I  had  not  joined  them. 

"  You'll  come  with  us,  won't  you  ? "  asked  Murden,  in  s 
fcone  of  surprise. 

"  No,  not  to-day." 

Not  a  man  of  the  squad  but  looked  disappointed.  They 
had  anticipated  a  diff"erent  result. 

"  And  why  not  ?  "  asked  Murden,  apparently  a  little  ve^^d 
\t  my  refusal. 

"  Because  I'm  a  Yankee,"  I  answered. 


CHANGE  OF  MIND.  18k 

**  But,  d — n  it,  mau,"  cried  tlie  commissioner,  '-'  Yankee? 
are  not  cowards,  and  that's  no  reason  wliy  you  should  not 
go  with  us." 

"  As  you  say,  Yankees  are  not  cowards,  but  when  they 
undertake  anything,  they  wish  to  win.  They  study  all  tho 
chances,  and  never  start  on  a  chase  unless  they  can  see  suc- 
cessful results." 

"And  you  think  that  our  pursuit  will  amount  to  nothing  ?  " 
asked  the  commissioner. 

"  Just  so." 

"  And  will  you  please  give  me  a  reason  for  such  a  sage 
conclusion  ?  " 

"  Half  a  dozen,  if  you  desire  them." 

"  One  will  do." 

"  Well,  then,  look  to  your  horses.  How  many  miles  have 
you  travelled  within  the  last  twenty-four  hours  ? " 

"  Between  sixty  and  seventy." 

"  And  you  think  they  are  in  perfect  condition  to  overtake 
bushrangers  who  are  mounted  upon  fresh  horses,  and  the 
best  ones  to  be  found  in  the  country  ?  Remember  they 
never  steal  poor  animals." 

I  saw  the  commissioner's  face  change.  He  began  to  com- 
prehend me. 

"  Let  your  horses  rest  for  a  few  hours  —  let  your  men  re- 
cover from  their  fatigue,  and  then  we  will  start  on  an  expe- 
dition that  will  result  to  your  satisfaction." 

The  police  looked  their  gratitude,  although  they  did  not 
dare  to  utter  a  word.  But  they  thought  I  was  right,  never- 
iheless. 

"  Be  content,  for  the  present,  to  know  that  we  have  killed 
four  bushrangers,  and  recovered  the  four  horses  stolen 
from  the  police,  and  a  fifth  that  belonged  to  some  one 
else." 

The  commissioner  opened  his  eyes  to  their  widest  extent, 
and  then  shouted,  "  Dismount ! "  and  as  the  men  touched 
the  ground,  I  led  them  through  the  orchard  to  the  spot  where 
I  could  see  horses,  and  where  I  knew  the  dead  bushrangers 
irere  lying. 


186  THE  BUSHRANGEES. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

DEAD    JBUSHKANGEES. HOPEFUL   AND   AMELIA. A   WARN. 

ING.  OLD    LOTE    FOEGOTTEN^. 

When  we  were  defending  the  house  from  the  murderous 
attack  of  the  bushrangers,  and  had  succeeded  in  killing  four 
of  them,  I  knew  it  was  not  a  peculiarity  of  the  rascals  to 
care  for  their  dead  or  wounded,  time  being  too  valuable  to 
stop  and  bury  the  defunct  or  succor  the  injured;  so  when  I 
gaw  the  bushrangers  drag  the  dead  bodies  away,  I  knew 
they  would  leave  them  near  the  house,  or  just  beyond  the 
reach  of  our  fire.  I  was  therefore  pretty  confident  that  my 
statement  would  prove  true,  for  I  had  seen  that  four  horses 
were  in  the  orchard,  and  I  knew  our  troublesome  visitors 
would  not  take  those  which  the  dead  men  rode,  as  speed  was 
something  of  a  consideration  with  the  fellows  in  their  re- 
treat, not  knowing  how  hard  the  police  would  pursue  them. 

"If  you  have  killed  four  of  Keeler's  gang,"  said  the 
commissioner  in  a  tone  that  showed  he  had  some  little 
doubt  of  the  statement,  "  and  have  saved  our  police  horses, 
you  have  done  us  an  immense  benefit,  and  redeemed  our 
•lame.  But  lead  the  way,  and  let  us  have  a  glimpse  of  the 
iodies." 

I  led  the  way  through  the  orchard,  all  hands  following 
close  to  my  heels,  while  Rover  stalked  by  my  side,  the  noble 
hound  refusing  to  leave  me  even  for  a  moment ;  and  he  also 
decb*n«!id  the  friendship  which  the  rest  of  the  pack  proffered 
in  my  behalf,  as  though  he  had  no  notion  of  sharing  mji 
affections  with  any  other  dog.  We  stopped  for  a  moment 
10  examine  the  horses  which  the  bushrangers  had  left  be- 
hind. As  I  expected,  three  of  them  belonged  to  the  police, 
and  the  other  was  an  animal  stolen  from  White's  farm,  on 
the  Murrumbridgee,  judging  from  the  brand  on  the  brute's 
flan).'.  All  four  of  the  animals  were  exhausted,  and  that 
was  why  they  were  left  behind.     A  few  yards  beyond  the 


DEAD  BUSHKANGERS.-- HOPEFUL  AND  AMELIA.         18? 

horses  we  came  to  tlie  dead  bodies  of  the  bushrangers,  their 
faces  covered  with  flies,  which  hovered  around  them  in  count- 
less numbers. 

"  Well,  get  some  spades,  two  or  three  of  you,"  said  the 
commissioner,  "  and  make  a  hole  and  tumble  them  in. 
We'll  gi  ve  them  a  burial  at  any  rate,  and  thus  disappoint  the 
vultures  ; "  and  with  these  words  we  turned  and  walked  to- 
wards the  house. 

"  "\ATiere  have  you  been  ?  Why  didn't  you  join  us  ?"  re- 
sumed Murden.  "  Give  me  a  history  of  your  adventures, 
while  I  have  time  to  listen  to  them  without  interruption." 

*'  One  question  first,"  cried  Hez,  who  had  listened  to  our 
conversation  with  breathless  interest.  "  Did  you  see  any 
gold  specimens  durin'  your  tramp  ?  W^e  come  here  for  the 
dosh,  you  know,  and  not  to  kill  people." 

"  I  have  not  thrown  away  my  time,"  I  answered.  "  Be 
content  with  what  is  to  come." 

"  That  depends  upon  what  is  to  come,"  returned  Hopeful. 
"  I'd  ruther  fight  gold-bearin'  quartz  rock  than  those  sneak- 
in'  thieves  what  jumps  on  you  before  you  knows  it,  and  cuts 
yer  throat  jist  as  though  yer  was  a  pig  instead  of  a  human 
bein'.  Now  I  — "  He  stopped  suddenly,  and  stared  with 
open  eyes  towards  the  house. 

I  followed  the  direction  of  his  glance,  and  saw  the  coquet- 
tish Miss  Amelia  Copey  near  the  door,  with  red  ribbons  on 
her  dress  and  several  flowers  in  her  hair ;  and  altogether  she 
looks  1  much  better  than  when  I  first  saw  her,  or  when  she 
made  a  slight  mistake,  and  threw  herself  into  my  arms,  and 
gave  me  several  very  sisterly  kisses. 

"■  By  Jehossephat !  what  is  that  ? "  Hopeful  asked. 

*'  A  woman,  of  course.     ^Yhat  should  it  be  ? "  I  replied. 

"  Wal,"  he  answered,  with  a  sigh,  "  she's  a  rusher,  now 
]  tell  you,  and  she's  almost  as  purty  as  my  Martha,  of  Hills- 
borough county.  New  Hampshire.  I  tell  you,  ain't  she  got 
the  hair  and  the  face  ?  " 

The  little  coquette  must  have  known  that  Hez  was  compli- 
menting  her,  for  she  smiled  in  a  most  benignant  manner, 
and  flashed  a  glance  at  him  that  made  him  shiver,  so  well 


18S  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

directed  was  it ;  and  as  I  noted  the  damage,  I  felt  a  little 
apprehensive  for  my  friend's  peace  of  mind. 

"  She  looks  good  enough  to  eat,"  muttered  Hez,  his 
mouth  watering ;  and  to  tell  the  truth,  Amelia,  as  she  stood 
on  the  steps  of  the  piazza,  with  bare  arms  and  neck  plump 
and  white,  was  enough  to  entice  almost  any  man  into  forget- 
fulness  of  wife  or  sweetheart. 

"Eemember  Martha,"  I  whispered  in  Hopeful's  ear. 
*'  Steel  your  heart  against  the  girl  before  you,  for  she  will 
but  lead  you  on  a  wild-goose  chase.  Remember,  show  no 
evidence  of  admiration,  or  she  will  take  advantage  of  it." 

"  You  want  her  yerself,"  cried  Hez,  in  a  blunt  tone,  and 
with  more  temper  than  I  ever  saw  him  exhibit  before. 

A  woman's  smile  or  frown  can  make  the  best  of  friends 
enemies.  I  laughed  at  the  remark,  and  laid  a  hand  on  his 
shoulder,  and  then  looked  into  his  white  eyes  and  freckled 
face  while  I  asked,  — 

"  Hopeful,  if  I  wanted  the  girl,  and  you  wanted  her,  which 
do  you  think  would  stand  the  best  chance  of  obtaining  her  ?  " 

"  You,"  he  answered,  and  looked  upon  the  ground,  and 
pawed  it  with  his  foot  like  a  restive  horse. 

"  Why  ? "  I  asked. 

"  0,  'cos  you  is  better  lookin'  than  me.  You  has  dark, 
curly  hair,  black  eyes,  and  a  handsome  face  —  or  the  women 
all  say  that  it  is,  and  they  know." 

"  Anything  else  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Yes ;  you  has  lots  of  money,  and  I  ain't  got  much." 

*'  And  with  money  and  good  looks  you  think  I  would 
stand  the  best  chance  with  yonder  little  flirt  ? "  I  asked. 

There  was  a  sullen  "yes."  It  is  terrible  for  a  man  to 
acknowledge  that  in  the  eyes  of  a  woman  another  is  supe- 
rior to  himself. 

"  And  do  you  think  that  I  should  succeed  in  preference  to 
yourself  with  Martha  ? " 

"  Gol  darn  it,  no  ! "  was  the  hearty  exclamation. 

"  Even  with  my  wealth  ?  " 

"  No,  I  tell  yer ! "  and  the  man  showed  signs  of  impa. 
lienoe. 


A  WARKING.  189 

**  Then  don't  you  tliink  tlie  affections  of  such  a  girl  are 
wrorth  more  than  the  passing  whims  of  yonder  flirt,  who 
would  jilt  you  to-day  and  me  to-morrow  ? " 

"  Yes ;  JMartha  is  a  noble  girl,"  answered  the  man,  as 
though  thinking  over  the  subject. 

"  I  know  she  is,  and  on  her  account,  and  on  your  account, 
I  want  you  to  escape  the  net  which  yonder  girl  will  weave 
for  you." 

"And  you  don't  want  her  for  yourself?"  asked  Hez,  his 
"ace  clearing  up  a  little. 

"  I  assure  you  that  I  do  not." 

"  And  you  don't  want  to  crowd  me  off  ? " 

"  I  have  no  such  idea,  I  assure  you." 

"  I  believe  you ; "  and  the  honest  son  of  New  Hampshire 
extended  his  hand  and  grasped  mine. 

"  Let  me  prove  it,"  I  said,  without  a  thought  of  the  con- 
sequences. "  In  her  company,  and  while  I  am  at  the  house, 
I'll  pass  for  a  poor  man,  and  you  shall  be  known  as  a  rich 
one.  You  shall  quote  your  wealth,  and  I'll  laugh  at  the  loss 
of  fortune.     Now  are  you  satisfied  ? " 

"  Yes  ; "  and  Hez  drew  a  long  breath,  as  though  he  felt 
relieved. 

While  we  were  conversing  Murden  had  approached  the 
house,  and  was  chatting  with  Miss  Amelia,  who  tossed  her 
head  and  flaunted  her  ribbons  as  though  she  knew  her  value 
in  that  part  of  the  world,  and  was  determined  to  be  appre- 
ciated. 

"  0,  you  odious  thing ! "  was  the  first  salutation  which 
the  commissioner  received.  "  I  was  in  hopes  I  should  never 
gee  you  again.  The  last  time  you  were  here  you  nearly  pes- 
tered my  life  out  of  me  —  you  know  you  did." 

"I  shall  nsver  do  that  until  you  marry  me,"  was  the 
laughing  reply ;  and  Murden  extended  his  hand,  which  the 
young  girl  took,  and  then  threw  away,  while  a  blush  mantled 
her  face  as  she  said,  — 

"  Impertinent !  I'll  never  shake  hands  with  you  again, 
for  you  always  squeeze  my  fingers." 

"  And  how  can  1  resist  such  temptation,  when  that  eof^ 


190  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

white  hand  is  laid  in  mine?     Come,  let  us  kiss,  and  be 
friends." 

"  I  would  not  kiss  you  to  save  your  life  ;  "  and  the  little 
coquette  tossed  her  head  and  looked  her  scorn.  Murden 
laughed. 

'*  And  this  gentleman," —  he  pointed  to  me,  —  "  he  has  a 
l>Btter  looking  face  than  mine ;  it  is  not  so  red,  and  hia 
beard  is  not  so  stiff.     Would  you  kiss  him  ? " 

"  No ;  for  I  hate  him  worse  than  I  do  you ; "  and  she 
pouted  her  red  lips,  while  I  laughed  at  her  antics. 

"  Well,  we  wish  to  accommodate  you,"  continued  the  pro- 
voking commissioner ;  and  he  laid  his  hand  on  Hez's  shoul- 
der and  said,  "  What  do  you  think  of  this  man  ?  He  is 
rich,  while  we  are  poor.     He  can  make  a  lady  of  you." 

Murden  uttered  the  very  words  that  Hopeful  desired  him 
to  ;  but  the  commissioner  was  unconscious  of  it.  He  meant 
that  as  far  as  brains  went,  Hez  had  the  advantage  of  us,  for 
he  could  make  a  fortune  by  their  aid,  while  we  should  starve. 
I  watched  the  young  lady  while  Murden  was  speaking,  and 
saw  the  sudden  sparkle  of  her  eye,  and  the  quick  glance 
which  she  threw  at  my  New  Hampshire  friend.  His  freckles, 
in  her  eyes,  were  covered  with  golden  scales,  and  his  sandy 
hair  was  shaded  by  the  siftings  of  gold  dust.  Hopeful  as- 
sumed a  new  light  in  her  eyes.  He  was  rich  —  wealthy 
enough  to  give  her  station  and  all  the  luxuries  which  a 
young  girl  supposes  are  her  due  and  right  if  she  conde- 
scends to  accept  of  a  husband.  From  that  time  Hez  assumed 
a  prominent  position  in  her  mind,  and  much  unhappinesa 
was  the  result,  all  because  I  did  not  see  the  bearings  of  cer- 
tain idle  expressions  and  suppositions. 

.  "Come,"  said  the  commissioner,  with  a  heaity  laugh, 
while  Amelia  was  looking  us  over,  "  won't  you  kiss  one 
of  us  ?  " 

*'No,  Mr.  Impudence." 

"  Well,  which  one  would  you  kiss  if  compelled  to  ?  "  Mur- 
den asked. 

*'  This  one." 

She  pointed  to  Hez,  much  to  the  man's  delight,  and  thcB 


A  COQUETTE  AT  WORK.  19 i 

vanished,  sending  back  a  ringing  laugh  as  the  disappeared ; 
and  as  she  was  lost  to  sight  I  looked  up  and  saw  the  cIowt^- 
ish  features  of  Moloch,  who  had  overheard  all  that  h»d 
taken  place,  and  expressed  his  feelings  through  his  face.  I 
read  love,  jealousy,  and  hate,  but  which  of  us  merited  his 
anger  I  could  not  tell ;  but  it  was  evident  to  me  that  the 
clown  dared  to  lift  his  eyes  to  Amelia  —  that  he  loved  her ; 
worshipped  one  who  would  have  killed  him  with  a  look,  had 
she  supposed  he  was  serious  in  wishing  her  for  a  wife,  al- 
though, to  tell  the  truth,  she  did  not  object  to  his  admira- 
tion. That  she  could  tolerate,  but  no  familiarity  must  resuli 
from  it.  He  must  keep  his  distance,  and  treat  her  like  a 
princess,  or  bow  down  to  her,  as  the  natives  of  the  East  bow 
to  the  sun.  But  if  he  had  dared  to  talk  of  love  and  mar- 
riage, she  would  have  crushed  him  with  a  torrent  of  scorn 
and  reproach  for  his  presumption. 

"  That  fellow  will  occasion  trouble  in  the  family,"  I 
thought.  "He  is  already  crazy  with  jealousy  if  a  man  but 
exchanges  a  word  with  the  girl.  I  will  speak  to  Smith 
about  it." 

After  we  had  finished  breakfast  we  lighted  cigars  and 
walked  out  to  see  if  the  horses  and  men  were  properly 
cared  for.  "We  found  the  latter  under  the  shade  of  trees, 
contented  with  their  present  ease. 


CHAPTER    XXVni. 

L   COQUETTE  AT  W^OBK. A  JEALOUS  LOVER.  A.N  AT- 
TEMPTED MUKDER.  AN  ALARM. 

Amelia  was  assisting  to  perform  some  household  duties 
when  I  returned  to  the  house.  Hez  was  watching  hei 
motions  as  she  flitted  to  and  fro,  staring  at  her  with  a  species 
of  loving,  longing  expressions  upon  his  face  that  would  have 
made  me  laugh  at  any  other  time.  I  could  not  help  sighing 
as  I  noticed  the  scene,  and  I  wished  that  I  was  the  victim 


192  •  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

instead  of  Hez.  I  thought  I  could  stand  the  pressure  bettei 
than  my  friend.  Besides,  the  girl  was  handsome,  and  I 
have  a  weakness  for  pretty  girls. 

"  Come,  Hez,"  I  said,  "  let  us  go  and  take  a  nap.  We 
need  rest,  for  there's  no  knowing  how  soon  we  shall  be  called 
to  the  saddle." 

*'  I  am  sure  it  would  be  very  impolite  in  Mr.  Hopeful  to 
leave  me  just  at  this  time,"  cried  Amelia.  *'  I  have  many 
things  for  him  to  do.  But  go  if  you  want  to  —  don't  let  me 
detain  you ; "  and  the  jade  threw  a  glance  at  the  victim  that 
made  him  almost  ready  to  fall  down  and  worship  her. 

"  Miss  Amelia,"  I  said,  following  the  young  girl  into  the 
dining-room,  and  speaking  in  a  low  tone,  so  that  Hez  could 
not  hear  me,  "  do  you  think  that  it  is  right  or  honorable 
to  coquet  with  that  young  man  ?  He  is  not-  accustomed 
to  the  ways  of  the  world,  and  knows  but  little  of  woman's 
heart." 

"  So  much  the  better,"  answered  the  pert  jade,  and 
pursed  up  her  red  lips  and  balanced  herself  on  her  toes, 
took  one  or  two  dancing  steps,  and  lifted  her  dress  so  thai 
I  could  catch  a  glimpse  of  as  neat  an  ankle  as  man  could 
desire  to  see. 

"  Will  you  listen  to  me  for  a  moment  ? " 

"  No,  not  if  you  intend  to  be  serious,  for  I  can't  bear 
such  people." 

"  Well,  let  me  tell  you  one  thing  that  will  interest  you. 
If  you  want  to  test  your  power,  just  try  it  on  me." 

The  little  gypsy  laughed  while  she  made  a  mock  courtesy, 
and  replied,  "But  I  prefer  my  present  subject.  He  is 
much  more  interesting  than  you.'*  She  turned  away  with  a 
laugh,  while  I  wiped  the  perspiration  from  my  brow  and 
retired  in  as  good  order  as  possible,  considering  the  rebuff 
which  I  had  met  with. 

As  I  left  the  room  I  saw  Moloch  standing  at  the  open 
window.  He  had  been  listening,  and  had  heard  every  word 
of  our  conversation.  I  saw  a  most  diabolical  grin  upon  liis 
face,  and  that  maddened  me  ;  but  I  did  not  show  signsi  of  it. 
[  pretended  not  to  notice  the  man,  but  passed  up  the  stairs  to 


A  JEALOUS   LOVER.  19£ 

tlie  room  viiicli  Smith  had  assigned  me,  and  saw  that  the  dirtj 
water  in  vfhich  I  had  washed  had  not  been  removed  fron: 
the  wash-bowl.  The  window  was  open  ;  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity was  presented  for  punishing  an  eavesdropper.  1 
walked  softly  to  the  window,  and  emptied  the  slops  upor 
Moloch's  head.  I  heard  a  roar  like  that  produced  by  an 
enraged  bull,  and,  looking  *down,  I  saw  Moloch  gasping  for 
breath,  and  spitting  the  soap  and  water  from  his  mouth,  and 
rubbing  it  from  his  eyes. 

"  ITullo  !  you  there  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  and  damn  it,  you  knowed  I  was !  "  the  victim 
shouted. 

"  Well,  the  next  time  you  listen  to  my  conversation,  see 
that  you  are  some  distance  from  the  window,  for  sometimes 
I  act  without  thinking." 

'*  You  is  a  d — d  good-looking  feller,"  the  clown  said ; 
"  but  you  can't  make  love  to  Miss  Amelia ;  "  and  with  these 
words  off  he  went,  muttering  some  threats  which  I  did  not 
heed,  or  deem  of  the  slightest  importance,  for  I  had  heard 
many  of  them  in  my  day. 

I  lay  down  on  a  mattress  which  was  on  the  bedstead,  and 
with  Rover  on  the  floor,  I  went  to  sleep  in  less  than  five 
minutes. 

I  must  have  slept  soundly,  for  when  I  awoke  it  was  dark, 
and  for  sonie  minutes  I  could  not  recollect  where  I  was,  or 
anything  that  had  occurred  during  the  past  twenty-four 
hours.  At  last  I  heard  some  one  ascending  the  stairs,  but 
the  step  was  so  quiet  and  light  that  I  could  not  tell  who  it 
was;  and  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  person  had 
r<!moved  his  shoes  for  the  purpose  of  not  awakening  me. 
I  remained  perfectly  still ;  and  then  I  heard  my  door  open, 
and  some  one  looked  into  the  room.  I  knew  it  could  not 
1)13  a  stranger,  for  I  heard  Rover's  tail  beat  the  floor,  x  was 
just  about  to  speak,  for  I  supposed  that  it  was  Smith,  when 
the  door  closed,  and  the  sound  of  footsteps  informed  me  that 
my  visitor  had  departed. 

"  Rather  singular,"  I  thought,  and  rolled  over,  and  in- 
tended to  go  to  sleep  again ;  but  I  no  longer  felt  sleepy,  so 


194  THE    BUSHBAN*^ER5. 

[  rolled  back  and  forth  on  the  mattress,  and  wondered  wLai 
time  of  night  it  was,  and  where  the  deuce  the  matches  were  , 
and  just  as  I  thought  that  I  would  get  up  and  hunt  for 
some,  —  and,  in  fact,  I  had  sat  up  in  bed,  —  I  heard  a  slight 
noise  at  the  window,  and  on  looking  in  that  direction  I  saw 
a  man's  head  and  shoulders.  He  was  standing,  apparently, 
on  a  ladder,  and  seemed  to  be  peering  into  the  room  and 
listening  at  the  same  time.  There  was  a  low  growl  from 
Rover,  as  though  warning  the  intruder  to  be  cautious. 

"  Grood  doggy,"  I  heard  a  voice  whisper  ;  and  then  Rovet 
beat  his  tail  upon  the  floor  in  response  to  the  compliment. 

"  This  is  rather  singular,"  I  thought.  "  Perhaps  the 
man  desires  something  from  the  room,  and  don't  care  to 
wake  me.  He  is  very  considerate,  at  all  events.  I'll  lie 
still,  and  see  how  he  operates." 

I  kept  my  eyes  upon  the  window,  and  by  the  light  could 
see  the  dark  form  of  the  man  motionless  and  silent,  as  though 
resolving  upon  what  course  he  should  pursue.  He  seemed 
afraid  of  the  hound,  for  he  whispered,  — 

"  Come  here,  pup  ;  "  and  Rover  went  towards  him,  and  was 
rewarded  by  a  pat  on  the  head.  *'  Now  lay  down,  good 
dog,"  my  nocturnal  visitor  said  ;  and  this  time  he  spoke 
rather  louder  than  he  intended,  for  I  recognized  Moloch's 
voice. 

"  Ho  !  ho  !  "  I  muttered  to  myself;  "  the  rascal  has  a  de- 
sign in  visiting  me.  I  will  wait  and  see  what  his  intentions 
are ; "  and  after  I  had  arrived  at  such  a  conclusion,  I  felt 
quite  comfortable,  and  remained  quiet. 

Obedient  to  orders  Rover  lay  down,  for  he  did  not  think 
it  remarkable  to  see  a  man  whom  he  knew  as  well  as  he  did 
Moloch.  He  had  been  accustomed  to  obey  the  farm  hand, 
and  he  still  remembered  it,  although  he  had  found  a  new 
master.  As  the  dog  lay  down  Moloch  put  one  foot  over 
the  window-sill,  and  prepared  to  step  into  the  room,  and  as 
he  did  so,  I  saw,  by  aid  of  the  starlight,  that  the  fellow  held 
a  knife  between  his  teeth ;  and  I  instantly  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  weapon  was  intended  for  me,  and  that  he 
was  prompted  by  jealousy  to  attempt  my  assassination.     A 


AN  ATTEMPTED  MUKDEK.  195 

word  would  have  explained  that  his  ill  feeling  was  all  thrown 
away  —  that  Amelia  did  not  love  me,  nor  I  Amelia ;  but  then 
I  did  not  deem  it  worth  while  to  say  a  word,  for  I  thought 
that  my  good  luck  would  get  me  out  of  the  scrape  in  some 
manner,  in  spite  of  the  fellow's  cat-like  movements,  and 
long,  sharp  knife. 

After  Moloch  had  swung  his  leg  over  the  window,  he 
rested  for  a  few  seconds  and  listened.  I  remained  quiet,  and 
even  gave  utterance  to  a  snore,  to  assure  the  listener  that  I 
was  asleep  ;  and  it  appeared  to  be  convincing,  for  he  stepped 
into  the  room,  and  came  towards  the  bed,  stealing  along  on 
tiptoe,  and  making  not  the  least  noise.  I  watched  all  of  his 
motions,  for  I  could  see  them  by  the  aid  of  the  window,  and 
he  kept  between  it  and  the  bed ;  and  when  I  thought  he  was 
near  enough  for  comfort,  I  just  uttered  a  slight  yawn,  as 
though  I  was  waking  up.  Instantly  the  fellow  dropped  to 
the  hoor,  and  remained  in  a  crouching  position,  waiting  for 
me  to  go  to  sleep  again,  or  become  composed ;  but  with  one 
eye  on  the  rogue  I  commenced  a  noiseless  retreat  from  the 
bed;  and  I  had  this  advantage  in  so  doing — I  could  see  all 
his  movements,  but  he  could  not  notice  mine  ;  and  so  quietly 
did  J  work  that  I  was  on  the  floor,  and  the  bed  was  between 
us,  and  yet  Moloch  knew  nothing  of  the  matter ;  and  by  the 
time  he  had  regained  his  feet,  and  advanced,  knife  in  hand, 
towards  the  bed,  I  had  changed  the  pillows  so  that  they 
represented  my  form,  and  covered  them  with  a  sheet. 

The  clown  would  have  noticed  the  change  if  he  had  not 
been  blinded  with  passion  ;  he  would  have  observed  that  the 
form  on  the  bed  did  not  breathe,  did  not  move,  and  that  its 
face  was  covered  —  an  unusual  thing  in  a  hot  climate.  He  did 
not  stop  to  remark  these  things ;  he  was  so  full  of  spite  that 
he  was  thirsting  for  blood,  and  when  he  raised  his  knife  he 
let  it  fall  with  the  full  force  of  his  arm.  Of  course  the  blade 
intered  the  pillows,  and  I  uttered  a  deep  groan,  and  then 
^lyly  jerked  the  pillows  in  such  a  way  that  the  would-be 
assassin  .supposed  that  I  was  struggling  in  the  agonies  of 
death ;  and  so  did  Hover,  for  the  dog  all  at  once  seemed 
struck  with  an  idea.     He  appeared  to  comprehend  *hat  Mo« 


196  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

loch  was  uot  exactly  doing  the  fair  thing ;  and  when  I  uttered 
a  groan  the  noble  hound  made  a  spring  for  the  assassin,  and 
seized  him  by  the  seat  of  his  pants,  and  shook  the  rascal, 
and  tore  out  whole  mouthfuls  of  cloth  and  some  flesh,  for 
the  fellow  uttered  a  subdued  howl,  and  started  for  the  ladder, 
Kover  hanging  on  as  though  determined  never  to  let  go ; 
but  he  altered  his  mind  when  Moloch  reached  the  window, 
for,  after  giving  the  fellow  one  or  two  nibbles,  which  elicited 
suppressed  cries  of  pain,  he  released  his  hold,  and  down  the 
ladder  the  clown  tumbled,  too  excited  and  alarmed  to  rtach 
the  ground  the  way  he  ascended.  I  stole  to  the  window 
and  glanced  out.  Moloch  was  picking  himself  up,  cursing 
and  muttering  in  a  subdued  tone,  too  fearful  of  attracting 
attention  to  express  all  that  he  desired  to.  But  I  saw  him 
hobble  off  and  disappear  around  the  corner.  I  concluded  to 
dress  in  the  dark,  to  wash,  and  to  brush  my  hair;  and  then, 
after  feeling  for  the  stairs  with  much  caution,  I  managed  to 
descend  them  with  safety,  although  I  had  some  doubts  about 
the  security  of  my  neck,  owing  to  the  peculiarity  of  the 
stairs,  which  were  built  by  a  man  laboring  under  delirium 
tremens.  As  I  reached  the  foot  of  the  stairs  I  heard  a  con- 
fused clatter  of  knives  and  forks,  and  smelt  the  odor  of 
roast  ducks  and  boiled  onions. 

*'  It's  devilish  mean  in  them  not  to  call  a  fellow,"  I  mut- 
tered, and  then  opened  the  door,  and  entered  the  dining- 
room. 

I  saw  at  the  table  Murden,  Smith,  Hez,  Maurice,  and  a 
neighboring  farmer  named  White. 

"  You  are  smart !  "  roared  the  company. 

"  Why  did  you  say  you  didn't  want  any  supper  ?  and  no'W 
jju  are  here,"  demanded  Smith  and  Murden  in  a  breath. 

"  T  have  not  had  a  chance  to  answer  that  important 
question,"  I  replied,  a  little  sulky  at  what  I  supposed 
was  their  fun. 

"  Not  had  a  chance  ? "  repeated  Smith.  "  Why,  I  sent 
Moloch  to  call  you,  and  he  returned  with  word  that  you 
were  tired  and  sleepy,  and  didn't  want  supper.  So  on  that 
ground  we  let  you  rest." 


AN   ALARM.  197 

"  Moloch  said  that,  did  he  ? " 

*'  Yes." 

"  Well,  I'm  much  obliged  to  him,  and  have  to  thank  him 
for  favors.  You  shall  see  whether  I  am  hungry  or  net ; "  and 
down  I  sat,  and  took  half  a  roast  duck  on  my  plate,  and 
commenced  eating  it  with  hearty  relish. 

*'  By  the  way,"  I  said,  in  an  abrupt  manner,  as  though  the 
thought  had  just  occurred  to  me,  "  it  is  a  little  singular  that 
Moloch  should  have  returned  such  an  answer  as  he  did.  I 
don't  understand  it." 

"  The  man  is  not  yet  awake,"  laughed  Murden. 

*'  I  think  that  I  have  given  evidence  that  I  am  not  only 
awake,  but  tolerably  hungry,"  I  answered.  "  But,  seriously 
speaking,  did  Moloch  say  that  he  called  me  ? " 

*'  Of  course  he  did,"  they  all  cried  in  chorus. 

"  Would  you  mind  sending  for  Moloch  ? "  I.  asked,  turning 
to  Smith. 

*'  Of  course  not.     VThy  should  I  ?  " 

"  Just  humor  me  in  my  whim,"  I  said.  "  Call  in  Moloch, 
send  him  up  stairs,  and  tell  him  to  wake  me  at  all  hazards. 
Wliile  he  is  absent  I'll  just  slip  into  the  closet,  and  wait  for 
derelopments." 

Smith  went  to  the  door  and  called  Moloch,  using  for  the 
summons  a  peculiar-shaped  sheep -whistle,  which  hung  near 
the  entrance.     It  brought  Joe  in  the  course  of  five  minutes. 

*'  Where's  Moloch  r "  asked  Smith. 

"  In  the  barn,  sleep  in'." 

"  Send  him  to  me.     I  want  him  to  do  an  errand." 

"  Yeez,  zur ; "  and  Joe  went  in  search  of  his  comrade. 

He  was  gone  a  long  time,  and  then  returned  and  said,  — 

"  Moloch  be  wery  sleepy,  and  say  he  won't  get  up." 

This  aroused  all  the  ire  of  Smith's  nature. 

"  The  rascal  ? "  he  exclaimed,  and  snatched  his  stocliman'ji 
whip. 

Joe  knew  what  Moloch's  punishment  would  be;  so  he 
threw  himself  in  front  of  his  master,  and  cried  out  for  him 
to  hold  his  hand,  and  that  he  would  make  Moloch  come  to 
the  house,  even  if  he  had  to  carry  him. 


198  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Very  well,"  returned  Smith ;  "  if  he  is  here  in  five  orin. 
ates,  I  shall  not  use  the  whip ;  if  not  —  " 

Within  the  time  specified,  I  could  hear  the  two  coming 
towards  the  house  ;  and  when  Moloch  presented  himself  be- 
fore his  master,  his  countenance  bore  all  the  evidences  of 
supposed  guilt,  for  I  could  see  it  through  a  crack  of  the 
closet  door. 

"  Did  you  vant  me,  zur  ? "  asked  the  clown,  with  a  tug  at 
his  foretop. 

"  Want  you  ?  Of  course  I  wanted  you.  Did  you  call 
the  man  who  is  up  stairs  ?  " 

"  Yeez,  zur." 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  " 

"  That  he  would  not  come  down." 

"  Well,  we  want  you  to  call  him  again,  and  tell  him  that 
he  must  get  up.     Don't  leave  him  till  he  turns  out." 

"  Must  I  go  up  there,  zur  ? "  and  the  rascal  pointed  over- 
head. 

"  Yes ;  and  be  lively  about  it." 

*'  Can  I  take  a  light,  zur  ? " 

"  A  light !  What  do  you  want  of  a  light  ?  Are  you  afraid 
of  ghosts  ? " 

"  No,  zur,  I'se  not;  but  you  see  the  man  is  quick  with  hia 
pistol,  and  he  might  shoot  I." 

*'  Then  knock  at  the  door  and  make  a  row.  Come,  don't 
be  all  night." 

"  Can't  Joe  go  with  me,  zur } "  Moloch  asked,  as  he  edged 
towards  the  door. 

The  farmer  made  a  movement  towards  his  stockman's 
whip,  and  at  this  stage  Moloch  retreated  at  a  rapid  rate,  but 
left  the  door  open  behind  him.  I  listened,  and  so  did  the 
company  present,  for  any  demonstration  on  the  part  of 
Moloch.  I  heard  him  knock  at  the  door,  and  call  me  ;  and 
then,  after  some  hesitation,  as  though  it  took  a  long  time  to 
make  up  his  mind,  he  entered  the  room,  still  shouting  my 
Qame,  as  if  to  keep  up  his  courage.  Then  there  was  a 
moment's  sileice,  and  the  yell  which  I  had  expected  came 
at  last. 


MOLOCH   IN   A  FIT.  199 

"  0,  zur !  "  the  man  shouted,  and  plugged  down  stairs  aa 
f-hough  he  was  closely  pursued  by  a  whole  army  of  ghosts 
He  dashed  into  the  room,  and  manifested  the  utmost  con- 
sternation as  he  closed  the  door,  and  then  faced  the  company 
at  the  table,  all  of  whom  were  sufficiently  startlei  to  manifest 
some  little  alarm. 

"  What  in  the  devil's  name  is  the  matter  ? "  roared  Sriiith, 
and  once  more  reached  for  his  whip;  but  this  time  it  pos- 
sessed no  terrors  for  Moloch. 

"  0,  maister  !  "  he  shouted,  "  the  poor  man  up  stairs  is 
dead." 

"  Dead  ! "  exclaimed  the  company,  with  well-affected  sur- 
prise. 

"  Yees,  zurs.  I  put  my  hand  on  'im,  and  he's  cold  aa 
mutton  in  winter.     But  you  come  and  see  for  yourselves." 

The  company  arose  from  the  table,  as  sober  as  so  many 
undertakers,  and  prepared  to  move  up  stairs. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

MOLOCH    IN    A    FIT. HIS    DISAPPEARANCE.  A    CLOSE 

SHOT. PREPARATIONS    FOB.    A    TRAMP. 

Or  course  I  saw  the  whole  of  the  scene ;  for  the  door  of 
the  closet  stood  ajar,  and  I  had  one  eye  close  to  the  crack, 
and  could  take  in  all  that  transpired  in  the  room.  1  saw  the 
protended  horror  of  Moloch  at  the  supposed  discovery  of 
mj  death ,  I  saw  the  well-played  consternation  of  the  com- 
pany at  the  table  —  and  they  acted  their  several  parts  in  an 
admirable  manner ;  and  then  I  saw  Smith  seize  the  trembling 
Moloch  by  the  arm,  and  heard  him  ask,  — 

"  Be  you  sure  that  Mr.  Jack  is  dead  ? " 

"  Yees,  zur,  I  is  sure  of  it.  I  put  my  hand  on  'im.  He 
vas  stone  cold." 

A  few  moments  pievious  to  this,  Amelia  and  Mrs.  Smith 


200  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

had  entered  the  room,  startled  by  tlie  noise  which  Moloeli 
had  made  in  descending  the  stairs. 

'*  0,  my  goodness  me  !  "  cried  Amelia ;  "  what  is  tlie  mat- 
ter with  you  men  that  you  make  this  noise  ?  " 

'*  Matter  enough,"  returned  Smith,  still  keeping  his  hold 
on  Moloch.     "  Mr.  Jack  is  dead." 

Amelia  threw  up  her  hands,  and  then  dove  for  her  sister. 

Mrs.  Smith  led  her  sister  from  the  room,  and  soothed  hei, 
while  Smith  still  kept  a  firm  hold  of  Moloch,  and  urged  him 
towards  the  stairs  which  led  to  the  room  I  had  occupied. 

"Let's  have  a  light,  maister,"  cried  Moloch,  who  still 
manifested  symptoms  of  alarm.  "  I  don't  want  to  go  in 
that  'ere  room  without  a  light." 

He  took  a  candle  from  the  table,  and  led  the  way  up  the 
stairs,  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  party ;  and  no  sooner  had 
they  disappeared  than  I  left  the  closet,  and  once  more  seated 
myself  at  the  table.  Up  the  stairs  stamped  the  party.  I 
heard  them  when  they  gained  the  door  of  the  chamber. 
I  heard  them  pause  for  a  moment,  as  though  deliberating  or 
gaining  courage,  and  then  with  a  rush  enter  the  apartment. 
For  one  moment  there  was  silence,  and  then  I  heard  a  loud 
cry  from  Moloch,  and  a  laugh  from  those  with  him. 

"  Where  is  the  dead  man  ? "  they  shouted.  "  Come,  show 
him  to  us." 

'*  He  was  here,  zurs  ;  "  was  the  reply ;  and  then  there  was 
a  pause,  as  though  the  men  were  confounded  at  the  sudden 
disappearance  of  the  body. 

"  If  he  was  here,  where  has  he  gone  to  ?  "  asked  Smith ; 
but  Moloch  could  not  answer. 

"There  has  been  some  foul  play  here,"  cried  Murden, 
whose  eyes  had  not  been  idle  while  he  was  in  the  room ;  and 
as  he  spoke  he  lifted  the  sheet  and  pillows,  and  exhibited 
the  cuts  which  the  knife  had  made  when  my  body  was  sup- 
posed to  occupy  the  place  where  the  pillow  was  lying. 

"  I  don't  know  nothin'  about  it,"  said  Moloch,  with  erident 
isymptoms  of  alarm.  "If  somebody  has  been  usin'  s  ki;ife. 
I  don't  know  who  done  it,  so  there's  a  end  of  it;"  «^c  th« 
fellow  'urned  away 


MOLOCH   IN   A   FIT.  201 

*'  Well,  let's  go  back  and  finish  our  supper,"  Smith  cried, 
and  the  proposition  was  accepted  without  a  dissenting  voice. 

Down  the  stairs  they  came,  and  took  their  seats  at  the 
table  ;  but,  according  to  agreement,  not  the  slightest  notice 
was  taken  of  me. 

Moloch  crawled  into  the  room,  his  face  very  pale,  and  hi^ 
©yes  cast  down  to  the  floor.  In  one  hand  he  carried  the 
eandle,  and  he  held  it  in  such  a  careless  manner  that  the 
mutton  tallow  of  which  it  was  composed  dripped  over  the 
floor,  looking  like  hail-stones. 

"  Put  the  candle  on  the  table,"  said  Smith,  in  a  sharp 
voice. 

Moloch  advanced  to  the  table  without  looking  up,  and  it 
BO  happened  that  he  attempted  to  reach  the  table  over  my 
shoulder ;  but  just  as  he  was  about  to  place  the  candlestick, 
he  glanced  upward  and  saw  my  face,  prepared  especially  for 
the  occasion. 

"  'Tis  he  ! "  the  clown  yelled  ;  and  giving  the  candle  a 
flirt  he  just  missed  my  nose,  and- set  fire  to  Hez's  red  hair, 
which  had  been  greased  with  tallow,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
cealing its  fiery  character  from  Amelia.  ''  'Tis  he  !  "  yelled 
Moloch ;  and  he  pointed  with  trembling  finger  at  my  face, 
and  let  the  candlestick  drop  with  a  crash,  while  his  kneeti 
ghook  with  terror. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  roared  Smith,  pretending 
great  indignation. 

"  'Tis  he  ! "  was  all  the  man  could  utter. 

"  Who,  you  fool  ? "  Smith  asked. 

"  Mr.  Jack,"  stammered  Moloch. 

"  Where  ? "  asked  all  the  company,  with  pretended  amaze- 
ment, and  glanced  around  the  room  as  though  in  search  of  me. 

"T/iere/"  cried  Moloch,  in  trembling  accents,  not  daring 
to  withdraw  his  gaze  from  my  face. 

"  We  see  no  one,"  Smith  and  Murdon  exclaimed. 

"  No  one  !  "  stammered  the  wretch  ;  "  and  yet  the  man  i.^ 
m  a  chair,  and  at  the  table ;  and  now  he  turns  his  eyes  upon 
me,  and  looks  —  0  maister  !  how  he  do  look  at  me — jist  as 
thouffhl  killed  him!" 


202  THE  BUSHKANGEKS. 

"  You  did  k  11  him  !  "  thundered  Murden,  while  I  slowly 
rose  from  the  table  and  took  a  step  towards  the  fellow 

"  Yeez,  I  done  for  him,"  confessed  the  wretch  ;  and  then 
with  foam  upon  his  lips  he  fell  to  the  floor,  frightened  into 
convulsions,  and  convinced  that  a  ghost  stood  before  him. 

Smith  took  the  man  by  his  heels,  and  dragged  him  out  of 
the  door,  and  threw  him  on  the  grass  in  the  front  yard ;  and 
there  he  left  him  to  recover  as  he  pleased,  or  die  if  nature 
should  so  direct.  After  this  feat  the  farmer  returned  to  the 
table  and  called  for  coffee,  and  Miss  Amelia  brought  it  in ; 
but  as  Hez  had  slipped  out  of  the  room  and  informed  her 
that  it  was  all  a  mistake,  that  I  was  not  dead,  the  amiable 
young  creature  dried  her  eyes,  told  her  sister  that  it  was  all 
a  joke,  and  that  she  was  rather  sorry  than  otherwise  that  I 
was  not  an  inmate  of  the  other  world,  and  then  insisted 
upon  carrying  in  the  coffee,  so  that  she  could  make  faces  at 
me,  for  she  assured  Hez  that  she  hated  me  above  all  earthly 
things,  which  Hopeful  believed,  and  was  comforted  thereby 
very  much. 

"  This  affair  is  no  joke,"  said  Murden.  *'  The  rascal  has 
attempted  to  kill  our  friend,  and  only  missed  because  Provi- 
dence was  on  his  side.  Now,  the  question  is,  what  shall  we 
do  with  him  ?  " 

"  Send  him  to  Melbourne  for  trial,"  Smith  answered.  "  I 
only  wish  that  we  had  the  power  —  we'd  hang  him  within  an 
hour,  the  rascal !     What  could  have  possessed  him  ?  " 

"  Love,"  I  answered.  All  at  the  table  re-echoed  the 
word,  and  laughed  at  the  idea. 

*'  Who  in  the  devil's  name  is  he  in  love  with  ? "  demanded 
Smith. 

"  Your  wife's  sister." 

"  Are  you  sure  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  I'll  go  and  kick  the  cuss ;  you  see  if  I  lon't." 

He  jumped  from  the  table  and  rushed  to  the  yard.  We 
followed  him  as  close  as  possible  ;  but  when  he  reached  the 
place  where  Moloch  was  left  a  few  minutes  before,  found 
Jliat  the  man  had  disappeared. 


MOLOCH'S  DISAPPEARANCE.  ^03 

"  D- — n  him  !  let  me  find  him,"  roared  Smith ;  and  h<2 
cracked  his  stockman's  whip  and  ran  round  looking  for  the 
fugitive  in  all  the  dark  corners  in  the  barn  where  Joe  was 
sleeping,  and  who  was  bewildered  at  the  visit,  and  then 
through  the  outbuildings ;  but  no  Moloch  could  be  seen. 
**  If  I  had  found  him,"  Smith  said,  —  and  he  handled  his  whip 
in  a  menacing  manner,  —  "  I  would  have  skinned  him  as  sure 
as  you  live.  To  dare  to  fall  in  love  with  that  lass !  D — n 
him !  what  impudence." 

I  could  have  set  Rover  on  his  trail  and  found  the  scamp, 
but  then  I  reflected  that  loving  a  girl  was  not  a  serious 
crime ;  and,  looking  at  my  watch,  I  saw  that  it  was  past 
twelve  o'clock,  so  informed  Murden  of  the  fact. 

"  That  means  that  we  must  mount  and  be  off,"  he  said. 

"  Not  exactly,"  I  replied.  *'  I  have  altered  my  opinion 
respecting  the  expediency  of  an  attack.     We  will  wait." 

"  And  for  what  length  of  time  ? "  asked  the  commissioner, 
in  a  tone  as  little  removed  from  a  sneer  as  it  could  be,  and 
still  remain  a  sneer. 

"  0,  say  for  a  day  or  two." 

"I  shall  do  no  such  thing,"  was  the  commissioner's 
answer,  in  his  usual  impetuous  manner,  headstrong  as  ever. 

"  Very  well,  then,  I  shall  remain  behind.  You  can  cross 
the  valley,  and  see  if  you  can  find  Keeler's  cave." 

I  lighted  a  cigar  and  walked  towards  the  house.  I  had 
taken  but  a  few  steps  when  Murden  overtook  me. 

*'  D — n  it,  man,  don't  go  off  in  that  manner.  Tell  me 
your  plans,  and  if  I  like  them  I'll  agree  to  them,  so  that 
we  can  work  together.  Come,  what  have  you  on  your 
mind?" 

"  Well,  listen.  While  I  was  awaiting  the  attack  of  that 
rascal  Moloch,  it  struck  me  that  Keeler  was  too  shrewd  to 
go  near  his  cave  to-night,  or  even  to-morrow." 

**  There's  something  in  that,"  muttered  Murden. 

'*  One  thing  more,"  I  said.  "  Let  me  whisper  it  i*i  yOiir 
ear."  And  as  the  commissioner  bent  his  head,  I  said,  "  In 
the  cave  Keeler  has  his  whole  stock  of  gold  and  silver,  the 
result  of  one  or  two  years'  robberies.     Do  you  think  that  h« 


204  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

would  allow  it  to  remain  tliere  while  expecting  a  visit,  and 
half  suspecting  that  I  know  the  place  where  it  way  buried  ?" 

•'  Of  course  he  would  remove  it,"  muttered  Murden. 

'*  To  be  sure  ho  would.  He  is  no  fool.  But  he  must  do 
it  carefully,  for  he  don't  care  to  let  his  companions  suspect 
the  treasure  which  he  possesses." 

"I  see,  I  see,"  Murden  said.  "There's  reason  in  every 
word  you  utter.  Of  course  the  men  don't  share  with  ns  iu 
case  we  lay  hands  on  the  spoil." 

"  Why  should  they  ? " 

"  To  be  sure,  why  should  they  ? "  briskly  responded  Mur- 
den, as  he  rubbed  his  hands  and  thought  how  he  would  like 
to  handle  the  gold. 

We  entered  the  house,  and  announced  to  Smith  and  his 
family  that  we  should  remain  with  them  for  some  days,  at 
which  news  the  Stockman  was  delighted,  and  Amelia  ipre- 
tended  a  little  petulance. 

"  0,  dear  !  "  she  said  ;  "  have  I  got  to  endure  the  com- 
pany of  you  men  for  such  a  length  of  time  ?  I  hope  that 
none  of  you  will  speak  to  me." 

"  Unless  we  offer  a  proposal  of  marriage,"  laughed  the 
commissioner. 

"  You  might  offer  in  vain,  Mr.  Policeman,"  the  little 
beauty  said,  with  a  flash  of  her  blue  eyes  and  a  toss  of  h'^i 
well-formed  head. 

Murden  laughed  as  he  replied,  "  Don't  be  alarmed ;  I 
have  no  idea  of  asking  such  a  butterfly  to  becx)me  my  wife. 
I  want  a  woman  for  a  companion,  not  a  bread-and-butter 
school-girl. 

"  I  won't  remain  here  and  be  insulted,"  she  said,  "  al- 
though I  should  like  to  sit  up  an  hour  or  two  longer,  if  any 
one  was  here  to  protect  me ; "  and  with  these  words  she 
swept  from  the  room,  and  we  saw  no  more  of  her  that  night. 

Hrz  tjmoked  his  pipe  in  silence  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
then  knocked  out  the  ashes  and  betook  himself  to  bed,  whils 
Murden  and  I  commenced  an  official  despatch,  and  before 
daylight  we  had  finished;  and  I  think  a  neater  th'iig  never 
went  to  headquarters.     It  told  of  deadly  peril ;  of  ambushe? 


PREPARATIONS   FOR  A  TRAMP.  205 

in  the  Black  Forest ;  of  sharp  skirmishes ;  of  burning  housA 
and  rescued  women,  and  property  saved,  and  closed  by  hop- 
ing to  annihilate  the  whole  of  Keeler's  gang,  upon  who^fl 
trail  we  were. 

"  There,"  said  Murden,  as  he  signed  the  document,  after 
paying  a  compliment  to  Hez  and  myself,  "  I  think  that  wiD 
make  the  government  open  its  eyes  to  my  merits,  and  crush 
all  who  were  opposed  to  me.  I'll  call  up  one  of  the  men 
atd  send  it  off  at  once,  for  we  shall  have  daylight  in  an 
hour's  time." 

He  stepped  to  the  door  and  blew  a  whistle,  and  one  of  the 
sentinels  came  running  to  see  what  was  wanted. 

"  Who  has  had  the  most  rest  ? "  asked  the  commis- 
sioner. 

"  Martin,  sir.     He  has  not  been  called  as  yet." 

"  Rouse  him  out,  and  tell  him  to  saddle  his  horse  and  g(t 
ready  for  a  trip  to  Melbourne." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  "  and  the  man  vanished. 

In  ten  minutes  Martin  reported  himself  as  ready,  received 
the  despatch  and  orders  to  return  as  soon  as  he  could,  anc 
then  started  on  his  journey ;  and  we  went  to  bed  and  slept 
until  noon,  when  we  turned  out,  found  something  to  eat, 
joked  a  little  with  Amelia,  and  received  scornful,  withering 
replies,  and  then  Hez  and  I  took  our  rifles  and  wandered 
off  towards  the  hills.  As  we  strolled  along.  Hopeful  mani- 
fested some  little  impatience  at  the  time  which  he  had 
wasted  while  in  the  country,  not  having  made  a  dollar,  as  he 
expressed  it ;  so  he  was  a  little  peevish  in  consequence. 

"  Why,  Hez,"  I  said,  "  what  do  you  care  for  money  ? 
You  no  longer  have  the  noble  ambition  which  actuated  you 
to  visit  the  country.  You  have  forgotten  Martha,  and  her 
constancy  and  truth,  for  a  fresh-faced,  coquettish  English 
girl.  Tell  me  that  you  will  still  remember  the  New  Hamp- 
shire maid,  and  that  you  want  gold  but  for  her  sake,  and  I'll 
go  to  work  in  earnest  in  the  course  of  a  few  days." 

Hez  plucked  the  grass  up  by  the  roots,  —  we  were  sitting 
near  a  bank,  and  in  sight  of  Smith's  house,  —  and  did  not 
reply  for  some  time :  but  at  last  he  looked   up   and   asked, 


206  THE  BUSHEANGEES. 

with  a  cunning  leer,  •'  Jack,  don't  you  want  the  little  Engliab 
gal  for  yourself?  " 

"  No,  I  assure  you  that  I  don't." 

*'  And  you  ain't  sorry  that  you  told  her  that  I  was  a  riuh 
man  and  you  a  poor  one  ? " 

•*  No  :  why  should  I  regret  it  ? " 

**  O,  'cos  I  see  that  arter  all  the  gal  likes  you  better  noi 
fihe  dres  me." 

"  j^  pretty  way  she  takes  of  showing  her  favor.  She 
stuffs  you  for  the  sake  of  showing  her  love  for  mQ." 

*'  You  may  laugh,  but  it  is  so,"  growled  Hez,  in  a  sulkj 
tone.     "  I'd  marry  her  if  I  could." 

"  You  shouldn't  do  any  such  thing,"  I  replied  in  a  quick 
tone,  and  without  a  moment's  thought. 

Hez  sprang  to  his  feet,  defiance  in  his  eye  and  mien. 
As  he  came  towards  me  I  arose  to  my  feet,  for  I  saw  that 
he  was  not  sane,  and  for  the  moment  capable  of  commit- 
ting some  rash  deed,  which  he  would  regret  in  his  cooler 
moments. 

"  Hopeful,"  I  said.  But  he  made  no  reply,  and  just  as  I 
was  about  to  speak  the  second  time  I  heard  a  sharp  report ; 
and  the  next  instant  my  broad-brimmed  hat  fell  from  my  head, 
knocked  therefrom  by  a  musket  ball ;  and  then  the  lead 
passed  between  us  and  touched  the  earth  some  thirty  rods 
beyond.  The  expression  of  Hez's  face  changed  in  an  instant 
from  jealous  rage  to  deep  anxiety.  He  sprang  forward, 
clasped  me  in  his  arms,  and  asked,  — 

"  5rou're  not  hurt  ?  Don't  tell  me  you  are  hurt !  I  won't 
believe  it.     Will  you  forgive  me  ? " 

"  Yes,  on  condition  you  will  help  me  find  that  skulking 
rascal." 

He  released  me,  and  both  of  us  seized  our  rifles  ani 
rushed  up  the  bank  in  the  direction  from  whence  the  shot 
proceeded ;  but  although  we  looked  in  every  direction,  and 
hunted  in  tree-tops  and  behind  bushes,  no  sign  of  a  human 
being  could  be  seen,  nor  even  the  trace  of  one.  Hez  was 
frantic  a*:  the  idea  of  the  villain's  escaping ;  but  after  a 
search  of  fifteen  minutes  we  gave  it  up,  and  retraced  our  steps 


AN  EXPEDITION.  20? 

towards  Smith's  ranche,  the  best  of  friends,  all  past  jeal* 
ousies  forgotten  and  forgiven  ;  for  I  knew  that  Hopeful  felt 
ashamed  of  his  conduct,  and  was  dejected  in  con&equence. 
I  made  no  allusion  to  what  had  occurred,  nor  did  he  ;  but 
during  the  three  days  that  we  remained  at  the  farm,  I  noticed 
that  my  friend  still  looked  with  loving  eyes  at  Amelia,  and 
that  she  wrung  his  heart  more  than  once ;  so,  to  end  the 
farcfr,  I  told  Murden  that  we  would  start  in  search  of  Keelei 
and  his  gang,  and  he  joyfully  gave  the  orders  to  get  ready 
for  the  march. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

A»    EXPEDITION.  CKOSSING    THE    Y ALLEY    BY    NIGHT. A 

CONFESSION. POINT    LOOKOUT. THE    SENTINELS. 

"  What  time  shall  we  start  ? "  asked  Murden,  when  I 
announced  that  I  thought  the  hour  had  arrived  for  action. 

"  Soon  after  twelve  to-night.  We  must  get  close  to 
Point  Lookout  by  daylight,  and  see  if  we  cannot  seize  the 
bushrangers  who  are  acting  as  sentinels." 

"  I  will  order  the  horses  to  be  ready,  and  will  start  at  any 
hour  that  you  will  name ; "  and  with  these  words  Murden 
went  to  the  stable,  leaving  me  with  Hez. 

*'  You  will  go  with  us  ? "  I  asked. 

"  No,  I  shall  stay  here,"  was  the  sullen  response. 

"  As  you  please,"  I  answered,  and  left  him. 

We  cleaned  our  arms  that  evening,  loaded  them,  and  at 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning  mounted  our  horses  and  started 
on  oir  expedition.  We  all  shook  hands  with  the  stockman, 
and  left  the  farm,  filing  out  of  the  yard  by  the  way  of  the 
orchard,  and  then  gaining  the  valley  which  stretched  for 
miles  north  and  south,  and  ended  at  the  edge  of  the  Black 
Forest  and  Point  Lookout.  By  the  side  of  my  horse  trotted 
^over,  henceforth  destined  to  be  my  inseparable  companion. 

At  last,  as  we  progressed,  the  travel  became  precarioiw 


208  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

and  we  were  compelled  to  walk  our  horses,  for  the  bog-holes 
were  numerous,  and  sometimes  our  animals  sunk  into  them 
up  to  their  girths,  and  were  extricated  with  difficulty.  Such 
being  the  case,  Murden  and  I  rode  ahead  of  the  troop,  and 
with  the  men,  like  a  miserable  lover  that  he  was,  came 
Hopefal ;  for  when  the  hour  of  departure  had  arrived,  he  had 
concluded  to  go  with  us,  and  not  remain  in  Miss  Amelia's 
company  any  longer. 

As  Murden  reined  his  horse  alongside  of  mine,  he  said, 
"  Miss  Amelia  is  a  sprightly  sort  of  lass,  and  to  tell  thtf 
truth,  I  rather  like  her.  I  need  a -wife  to  look  after  mj 
house,  and  comfort  me  a  little,  and  why  shouldn't  I  take  her  ? ' 

*'  I  know  of  but  one  reason  why  you  should  not,"  I  replied 

"  And  what  is  that  ?  " 

'*  Why,  will  she  have  you  ?  " 

"  How  should  I  know  till  I  have  asked  her  ? "  the  police- 
man retorted,  in  a  tone  of  surprise.  "  I  never  spoke  to  her 
about  love  or  such  nonsense,  because  I  was  always  busy  with 
my  chaff;  but  she  seemed  to  take  an  interest  in  me." 

"  How  so  ? "  I  asked  ;  and  I  attempted  to  obtain  a  look  at 
the  man's  face,  but  it  was  bent  close  to  his  horse's  neck,  on 
the  lookout  for  "  sink-holes,"  so  I  could  not  tell  if  he  was  in 
earnest. 

"  0,  she  always  tells  me  that  she  hates  me,  and  gives  me 
as  much  chaff  as  I  give  her." 

"  And  you  think  she  means  esteem  when  she  scolds  you  ?  '* 
I  asked. 

"  Well,  it  ain't  indifference,  for  you  know  young  girls  say 
they  hate  you,  when  at  the  same  time  they  have  some  little 
love  for  you;  and  I've  watched  Amelia  —  " 

Hare  his  confession  was  interrupted  by  his  horse  making 
a  plunge,  and  another  narrow  escape  from  a  "  sink-hole  "  was 
the  result.  I  was  rather  glad  of  it  than  otherv/ise,  for  I 
vould  not  do  my  duty  with  two  men  and  one  girl,  where  both 
of  the  former  loved  the  latter,  and  while  I  was  not  entirely 
free  to  act  as  umpire,  for  the  red  lips  and  saucy  eyes  of  Miss 
Amelia  were  tempting  to  a  young  man  not  more  than  —  Ah, 
well !  what  aie  ages  when  love  is  concerned? 


CROSSING  THE   VALLEY  BY  NIGHT.  209 

But  at  last  we  left  tlie  vicinity  of  "  sink-lioles,"  and  -vw^re 
tlose  under  the  lee  of  Point  Lookout,  where  Keeler  kept 
one  or  more  of  his  men  for  the  purpose  of  sweeping  the  val- 
ley for  miles  in  extent,  and  giving  timely  notice  if  enemies 
approached. 

"  "We  must  dismount  here,"  I  said,  as  we  reached  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  and  could  proceed  no  farther  on  horseback. 

"  Leave  three  of  your  most  careful  men  with  the  horses," 
I  said,  "  while  the  rest  of  us  climb  the  mountain,  and  pounec 
upon  the  robbers  in  case  they  are  near  us." 

The  commissioner  selected  three  of  the  oldest  men  in  the 
troop,  and  gave  them  their  instructions,  and  then  turned  to 
me  for  further  advice  ;  for  on  this  expedition  he  relied  entirely 
upon  me  for  guidance. 

"  Tell  the  men  that  they  must  not  exchange  a  word  when 
they  commence  the  ascent  —  that  oui-  success  depends  upon 
silence  and  caution.     Now,  then,  are  you  ready  ? " 

Murden  spoke  to  the  officers,  cautioned  them  about  their 
movements  ;  and  then  we  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  moun- 
tain, about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  Point  Lookout, 
so  that  we  could  cut  off  all  retreat  in  case  we  gained  the 
summit  of  the  mountain  without  being  discovered. 

We  were  within  fifteen  rods  of  the  point  which  commanded 
a  view  of  the  valley,  and  yet  not  a  sign  of  a  bushranger  was 
to  be  seen ;  and  I  began  to  think  that  Keeler  had  withdrawn 
his  sentinels  and  fled  towards  the  Great  Murray,  or  concealed 
himself  and  gang  in  the  fastness  of  Mount  Macedonskirt, 
where  a  regiment  of  soldiers  could  not  have  found  him,  had 
they  hunted  for  a  week ;  for  the  mountain  is  full  of  deep 
gorges,  dark  caves,  and  terrible  precipices,  where  a  falsa 
step  would  send  a  person  fiying  through  the  air,  and  land 
him,  a  mass  of  jelly  and  broken  bones,  on  the  rocks  below. 
T  was  about  to  rise  from  my  recumbent  position,  and  boldly 
advance,  when  Hez  said,  "  Hist !  "  in  as  low  a  tone  as  possi- 
ble ;  and  at  the  same  time  I  heard  the  peculiar  serpent-like 
hiss  which  the  police  use,  when  they  communicate  with  each 
other,  in  localities  where  the  human  voice  is  not  to  be  trust- 
ed.    T  looked  up  and  saw  Murden  signalize  to  me.     He  waa 


MO  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

in  a  better  position  than  myself  for  commanding  an  observa* 
tion,  and  as  I  caught  his  eye,  I  saw  quite  plainly  that  he 
had  news  for  me. 

"What  is  it?"  I  telegraphed;  and  an  answer  was  re. 
turned  tfiat  "  some  one  was  in  sight." 

I  edged  away  from  the  quartz  rock  behind  which  I  was 
sheltered,  and  at  last  obtained  a  position  where  I  could  seo 
Bome  distance,  and  note  all  that  was  going  on.  The  first 
thing  that  met  my  view  was  the  sturdy  form  of  a  bushranger, 
who  was  standing  near  the  point,  his  back  towards  us,  and 
his  eyes  scanning  the  valley  which  lay  at  his  feet,  covered 
with  mist.  The  fellow  seemed  to  have  just  "  turned  out," 
for  he  was  yawning  and  stretching  his  arms  like  a  man  who 
had  enjoyed  a  good  sleep,  and  was  rather  regretful  that 
daylight  had  appeared.  The  bushranger,  after  a  good 
hearty  stretch,  pulled  out  a  black-looking  pipe,  filled  it,  and 
commenced  smoking  with  much  apparent  relish.  After  a 
few  whifi's  he  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  shouted,  — 

"  Bob,  come  out  of  that ;  you  have  slept  long  enough." 

"  What  in  the  devil's  name  do  you  want  to  rouse  me  out 
at  this  hour  for  ? "  growled  Bob  ;  and  then  he  cast  his  eyes 
over  the  valley,  and  continued :  *'  Ugh !  the  fog  is  so  thick 
that  you  couldn't  see  a  regiment  if  marching  towards  us.  I 
say,  Alf,  what  a  fine  time  this  would  be  for  the  traps  to  steal 
towards  us.  They  could  get  up  to  Point  Lookout  before  we 
knew  it ;   and  then  wouldn't  we  be  dashed  ? " 

"  Don't  mention  traps  to  me,"  growled  Alf.  "  The  name 
makes  me  tremble.  I  never  wants  to  see  one  of  'em,  or  hear 
of  'em.     They  is  our  ene;nies,  and  we  is  theirs." 

I  was  anxious  to  save  Bob,  for  I  believed  him  capable  of 
better  things  than  a  bushranger's  life  ;  so  I  signalized  to  the 
men,  as  we  arose  from  our  crouching  position,  to  be  careful 
how  they  handled  their  weapons,  and  to  spare  Bob  if  it  was 
a  possible  thing.  The  dry  grass  en  which  we  stepped  gave 
forth  no  sound  as  we  advanced,  and  it  was  not  until  we  were 
within  ten  paces  of  the  bushrangers  that  their  sharp  ears 
detected  our  movements ;  and  then  they  sprang  to  their  feet 


AN  ATTEMPT  TO  EXTORT  A  CONFESSION.      211 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

$3H    ATTEMPT    TO    EXTOKT    A    CONFESSION.  THE    PERILS    OF 

TEAVELLING    IN    AUSTKALIA. A    STJRPEISE. 

SuEPEiSED  although  the  robbers  were,  they  did  not  seem 
80  much  intimidated  as  we  expected;  acd  as  they  surveyed 
their  enemies,  I  could  see  that  they  were  calculating  all  the 
chances,  and  considering  which  one  was  the  best. 

"  Surrender,  you  sons  of  the  devil !  "  roared  the  commis- 
sioner. "Drop  your  pistols  and  knives,  or  I'll  bore  you 
through  and  through  with  cold  lead." 

The  bushrangers  glared  at  him  as  though  they  would  like 
to  be  on  equal  terms ;  but  they  did  not  drop  their  arms,  as 
requested.  They  appeared  to  be  too  much  surprised  to  do 
so ;  but  I  noticed  that  they  were  gradually  retreating,  and 
it  struck  me  that  they  were  attempting  to  reach  their  cave, 
or  place  of  concealment,  and  then  bid  defiance  to  our  arms. 
No  sooner  did  I  note  the  movement  than  I  determined  to 
defeat  it. 

"  Stop  !  "  I  shouted.  "  If  you  take  another  backward  or 
forward  step  you  are  dead  men.     Now,  move  at  your  peril." 

In  an  instant  they  were  like  statues,  immovable.  .  Sud- 
denly Alf,  a  stout,  broad-shouldered  fellow,  with  a  cast  in 
one  eye,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  tell  the  direction  in 
which  he  was  looking,  spoke  in  the  slang  of  the  bushrangers  ; 
and  although  he  did  not  turn  his  head,  we  knew  that  he  was 
talking  to  Bob. 

"  Sligo  the  sling,"  he  said,  "  and  stalk  the  lags,"  which 
meant  that  either  he  or  his  companion  should  manage  in 
some  way  to  give  warning  to  Keeler  and  his  gang  that  the 
traps  were  at  hand. 

"  No,  you  don't,"  said  Murden,  who  understood  all  the  vile 
slang  of  the  bushrangers;  "if  you  do,  you  are  dead  men. 
We  are  not  to  be  trifled  with." 

The  cross-eyed  bushranger  seemed  to  lose  all  hoje  aftei 


212  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

this  remark.     He  held  his  arms  up  over  his  head  in  token 
*hat  he  surrendered  unconditionally. 

"  Put  your  irons  on,"  he  said,  "  or  else  in  mercy  shoot  me 
in  my  tracks,  and  save  the  courts  all  trouble.  I've  run  my 
career." 

"  And  I  mine,"  returned  Bob,  imitating  his  companion. 
'*  The  traps  have  got  the  best  of  us.  Our  "^ime  has  come  ;  so 
,we  may  as  well  fall  in,  for  our  drill  is  over." 

At  a  sign  from  Murden  two  of  the  officers  advanced  with 
irons  in  their  hands,  and  secured  the  men,  and  after  that 
was  done  we  went  forward  to  inspect  their  place  of  abode. 
It  was  a  small  cave,  with  plenty  of  blankets  in  it  to  keep  the 
sentinels  warm  during  the  night,  a  lot  of  provisions,  a  few 
books  of  a  low  order,  and  that  was  all.  As  I  left  the  cave, 
I  saw  that  the  young  bushranger  was  looking  at  me  in  a 
wishful  manner ;  so  I  approached,  and  sat  down  near  him. 

*'  Well,  sir,"  he  said,  "  luck  is  in  your  hands  this  time. 
You  has  us,  and  no  mistake.  I  don't  s'pose  we  can  expect 
a  bloody  bit  of  mercy  from  the  traps." 

"  I  shall  do  what  I  can  for  you  through  the  authorities ; 
but  it  will  depend  in  a  measure  upon  yourself  as  to  the 
result." 

"  I  know  what  you  would  ask,"  he  said. 

"  What  ? " 

"  That  I  should  betray  Keeler." 

"  No  ;  I  don't  ask  that  in  so  many  words.  I  want  you  to 
just  hint  as  to  his  present  position,  and  how  many  men  he 
has  with  him.     You  can  do  that." 

"No,  I  can't,"  was  the  candid  answer;  "I  will  not  turn 
traitor  even  to  save  my  life,  I  should  despise  my  bloody 
self  if  I  did,  and  so  would  you  despise  me.  I  can't  do  it, 
and  you  know  it.  I've  been  a  tough  cove,  and  desarve  what 
I  shall  get ;  but  I  can't  betray  Keeler  and  my  old  comrades." 

"  Come,  old  feller,"  cried  the  commissioner,  "  give  us 
Bome  information,  or  you  will  find  your  neck  in  danger.  Te'l 
me  this  instant  how  many  men  Keeler  has  with  him." 

"  I  can't  answer  the  question,  and  I  shan't  answer  it,"  was 
the  sullen  answer  ;  for  Bob  saw  that  he  had  a  Tartar  to  deal 
vith. 


AN  ATTEMPT  TO  EXTORT  A   CONFESSION.      215 

"  O,  you  won*t,  hey  ?  " 

"No." 

The  men  looked  like  two  bull  dogs  ready  to  spring  at 
«a>ch  other's  necks. 

"  Maurice,"  said  the  commissioner,  addressing  his  lieuten* 
ant,  "just  rig  a  gallows.  We  will  see  if  that  cove  won't 
answer." 

Bob  did  not  seem  in  the  least  intimidated  at  the  order,' 
but  sat  in  sullen  silence,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  ground. 
Although  I  knew  that  Murden  rrould  not  dare  to  hang  the 
man,  yet  I  knew  him  well  enough  to  be  aware  that  he  would 
not  scruple  to  choke  the  bushranger  just  a  little,  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  information ;  and  the  authorities  of 
Melbourne  would  have  winked  at  the  matter,  even  if  poor 
Bob's  life  had  gone  with  the  experiment ;  for  the  fellow,  in 
the  eye  of  the  law,  was  only  a  desperate  villain,  after  all,  and 
the  sooner  he  was  out  of  the  way  the  better  for  those  who 
travelled  to  and  from  the  mines.  Maurice,  who  had  no  more 
feeling  for  a  bushranger  than  he  had  for  a  snake,  deliberately 
produced  a  cord,  and  looked  around  for  a  convenient  tree  to 
which  he  could  attach  it ;  but  Alf,  the  old  robber,  who  had 
watched  all  the  movements  with  an  eager  eye,  now  thought 
that  it  was  time  to  interfere. 

"  You  have  no  authority  for  hanging  a  man,"  he  said.  "  I 
dare  you  to  do  it." 

Murden  was  so  surprised  at  the  man's  impudence  that  he 
could  not  answer  him  for  a  moment.  At  length  the  commis- 
sioner managed  to  find  his  voice. 

"  Who  in  the  devil's  name  are  you .'' "  he  shouted. 

"  Fm  a  pal  of  Bob's,  and  I  won't  see  him  abused  if  I  can 
help  it.  No,  sir,  much  as  I  should  regret  to  appeal  to  legal 
tribunals,  — for  I  confess  that  I  don't  like  them,  and  I  have 
avoided  them  when  I  could,  —  yet  I  warn  you  that  I  shall  do 
BO  if  a  hair  of  my  pal's  head  is  injured.  Now,  d — n  you, 
do  your  worst." 

It  was  amusing  to  witness  Murden's  face  while  the  captive 
bushranger,  heavily  ironed,  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  police, 
Was  speaking. 


214  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  By  the  Lord  Harry  !  "  he  said,  "  I  must  flog  thai  fellov^ 
or  burst.  The  law  permits  me  to  do  so,  and  I  will.  Don't 
say  one  word  to  prevent  me." 

"  Nonsense,"  I  replied,  in  a  tone  which  I  knew  would  calm 
him;  "  do  you  mean  to  take  notice  of  such  trifling  matters 
when  events  of  importance  are  about  to  transpire  ?  You 
don't  intend  to  injure  either  of  these  men.  I  owe  my  life 
to  one,  and  the  other  is  a  captive,  and  entitled  to  some  con- 
sideration. Come,  look  around.  It  is  almost  daylight.  If 
we  are  to  surprise  Keeler,  we  had  better  be  about  it." 

"  So  we  had.  We'll  move  at  once.  I  didn't  mean  to  harm 
the  prisoner,  you  know.  It  was  only  to  frighten  a  little 
information  from  him." 

"  The  rope  is  all  ready,  sir,"  cried  Maurice,  as  we  once 
more  neared  the  spot  where  the  bushrangers  were  lying. 

He  had  thrown  it  over  the  limb  of  a  tree,  and  made  a  slip- 
noose  with  one  end. 

"Nonsense,"  returned  Mui-den;  "you  didn't  think  I  was 
in  earnest,  did  you  ?     I  only  wanted  to  frighten  the  men." 

"  Well,  then,  what  is  to  be  done  with  the  prisoners  ?  We 
must  secure  them,  for  we  cannot  take  them  with  us." 

I  thought  of  the  matter  for  a  moment,  for  it  was  an  im- 
portant subject.  We  could  not  take  them  with  us,  for  they 
would  impede  our  advance.  We  could  not  leave  them 
behind,  for  we  should  have  to  detail  men  to  guard  them ; 
and  men  we  could  not  spare  just  at  that  time,  when  it 
was  uncertain  how  many  bushrangers  composed  Keeler's 
gang. 

There  was  no  help  for  it.  We  must  detail  "  Fiery  Tom'' 
in  charge  of  the  prisoners  until  our  return ;  and  so  I  told 
Murden,  who  jumped  at  the  suggestion,  for  Tom  could  not 
fight,  although  he  could  burn. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  commissioner,  "  we'll  put  irons  on  the 
fellows'  legs,  and  leave  Tom  to  take  charge  of  them." 

I  saw  a  dangerous  light  in  Tom's  eyes  as  h3  heard  the 
suggestion,  and  I  knew  what  the  villain  was  thinking  of. 
Be  imagined  that  he  would  have  a  nice  time  all  to  himself, 
flourishing  lighted  grass  in  the  faces  of  the  bushrangers ;  tut  I 


THE  BUSHRANGERS   HANDCUFFED.  ^g 

cut  short  Lis  liappy  thoughts  by  laying  one  hand  on  the  butl^ 
of  my  revolver,  and  the  other  on  Tom's  arm. 

'*  Look  here,  my  chicken,"  I  said,  "  if  you  but  hurt  a  hair 
of  those  men's  heads,  I'll  send  a  bullet  through  your  body, 
even  if  I  never  shoot  another  man  during  m^  life." 

"  So  help  me  Grod,  Mr.  Jack,"  the  fellow  cried;  but  I  inter- 
rupted him. 

*'  None  of  your  blarney,  Tom,  for  you  know  I  won't  stand 
it.  But  you  understand  me,  I  hope.  That  young  fellow  " 
—  and  I  pointed  to  the  deserter  from  the  English  army  — 
"  saved  my  life  ;  so  I  mean  to  save  his  in  return.  If  you 
play  any  of  your  pranks  with  him,  I'll  pay  you  for  it  with 
compound  interest." 

"  To  think  that  you  should  doubt  my  word !  "  returned 
*'  Fiery  Tom,"  with  a  reproachful  look. 

"  You'll  have  no  occasion  to  doubt  mine,"  I  answered ; 
and  then  we  separated.  ^ 

The  policemen  shackled  the  limbs  of  the  bushrangers  so 
that  it  was  impossible  to  move  hand  or  foot,  and  then  we 
gathered  up  our  arms  and  prepared  to  depart ;  but  while 
the  men  were  getting  ready,  I  stooped  and  whispered  to  the 
young  bushranger. 

"  No,  sir,"  he  said,  in  answer  to  my  question,  "  I  don't 
know  as  there's  anything  that  I  want.  You  has  been  very 
kind  to  me,  and  I'm  much  obliged.  If  you  had  a  drop  of 
liquor  about  you,  I  could  sup  it,  I  suppose,  and  it  wouldn't 
make  me  sick." 

I  raised  his  head  and  put  my  flask  to  his  lips.  He  took  a 
good  swig,  and  then  he  whispered  to  me  that  his  pal  would 
bo  thankful  for  a  sup ;  so  I  accommodated  him.  and  was 
called  a  "  real  gentleman"  for  my  kindness,  it  was  so  ulcj- 
pected.  We  returned  to  the  valley,  where  we  found  our 
horses.  We  mounted,  and  galloped  along  the  base  of  ih^ 
mountain,  using  as  much  speed  as  we  dared,  considering  the 
uncertainties  of  the  road,  which  we  were  entirely  unac- 
quainted  with.  But  as  the  mist  rose,  slowly  circling  ovei 
our  heads,  but  still  clinging  to  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  a* 
thoagh  r?luctant  to  part  after  a  night's  close  embrace,  I  wai 


2]  6  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

enabled  to  take  an  observation  of  my  position,  by  the  aid  of 
certain  marks  whicb  I  had  well  observed  the  day  I  made  my 
escape  from  the  cave. 

"  Near  here,"  I  said  to  Murden  in  a  whisper,  —  for  we  had 
checked  the  speed  of  our  animals  for  fear  the  sound  of  their 
hoofs  would  be  heard,  —  "is  the  small  stream  I  told  you  of. 
If  I  can  find  it,  there  will  no  longer  be  any  doubt  on  my 
miDd.  I  can  lead  you  to  the  cave  without  the  least  hesi- 
tation." 

Murden  turned  in  his  saddle,  and  spoke  to  his  lieutenant. 
"  Send  men  to  the  right  of  us,  and  tell  them  to  keep  a  sharp 
lookout  for  a  stream,  the  banks  of  which  are  concealed  by 
tall  grass.     Let  me  know  as  soon  as  they  discover  it." 

Obedient  to  a  sign,  the  men  started  in  different  directions, 
and  then  we  walked  our  horses  for  half  a  mile,  expecting  to 
come  upon  the  stream  every  moment. 

"  D — n  me  if  I  believe  there  is  a  stream  within  ten  miles 
of  here,"  the  commissioner  cried,  and  turned  to  me  as  if 
daring  me  to  deny  it. 

I  smiled  at  his  warmth,  and  that  smile  seemed  to  make 
the  officer  more  and  more  excited.  He  struck  his  horse, 
and  the  animal  suddenly  plunged  forward,  and  down  he  went, 
out  of  sight ;   but  Murden's  head  could  be  seen  above  the 


"  I  think  you  have  found  the  stream,"  I  said,  in  the  cool- 
est possible  manner.     "  Can  you  tell  me  how  deep  it  is  ? " 

I  heard  the  policemen  titter,  as  though  they  would  like  to 
laugh  if  they  dared  to  ;  but  as  they  did  not,  they  only  smiled, 
and  allowed  an  audible  snicker  to  Escape  them. 

"  Yes,  I  have  found  it,"  was  the  sullen  answer. 

"  And  how  do  you  like  it  ?  " 

"  None  of  your  business.     By ,  if  I  don't  believe  you 

knew  it  was  here ; "  and  Murden  touched  his  horse  for  the 
purpose  of  climbing  the  bank,  but  found  the  task  a  difficult 
one,  for  the  earth  was  soft,  and  easily  gave  way  beneath  the 
horse's  feet. 

"  I  knew  it  was  near  here  ;  but  as  you  were  positive  that 
it  was  not  within  ten  miles  of  us,  I  began  to  doubt  if  I  was 


A  SUEPRISE.  21  7 

correct.     However,  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  have  cleari"i 
up  all  doubt  on  the  matter  by  personal  observation." 

"  0,  blast  your  preaching !  Help  me  out  of  this,  and  TU 
make  a  solemn  promise  not  to  doubt  your  word  again." 

I  dismounted  and  approached  the  stream,  so  that  I  could 
examine  his  situation.  After  a  brief  survey  I  found  a  place 
where  cattle  had  climbed  up  the  bank,  and  to  this  point  1 
directed  the  commissioner's  attention.  He  headed  his  horso 
down  stream,  and  after  a  while  landed  on  firm  ground,  and 
then  commenced  grumbling,  as  is  customary  with  Enjj- 
lishmen. 

"Do  you  mean  to  hunt  bushrangers,  or  stand  here  and 
growl  all  day  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  When  I  am  unable  to  growl,  I  am  unable  to  stand,"  was 
the  reply ;  and  I  believe  the  remark  holds  good  with  all  his 
countrymen. 

**  And  while  you  are  growling  the  mist  is  lising.  In  a 
short  time  the  whole  of  the  valley  will  be  exposed  to  the 
jealous  scrutiny  of  the  bushrangers  ;  and  if  they  once  catch 
sight  of  us,  we  might  as  well  attempt  to  capture  so  many 
eagles.  Come,  give  the  word  to  march,  and  scrape  the  mud 
from  your  person  some  other  time." 

The  mist  still  clung  to  the  mountain  side,  as  though  to 
facilitate  our  movements  ;*but  already  had  the  sun  appeared 
above  the  horizon,  and  it  would  soon  scatter  the  thin,  haze- 
like web  that  hung  over  us.  We  left  the  horses  in  charge 
of  two  men,  and  then  commenced  ascending  the  mountain, 
leaving  the  beaten  path  for  fear  we  should  be  observed  sooner 
than  was  desirable.  We  crept  up,  making  not  the  least 
noise  ;  and  it  was  well  for  us  that  we  were  so  quiet,  for  while 
we  wiTC  in  the  mist  I  suddenly  found  myself  face  to  face 
with  a  burly  bushranger,  who  was  seated  on  a  piece  of  quaitz, 
smoking  in  a  complacent  manner,  and  probably  meditating 
ou  the  evil  deeds  which  he  had  committed. 

'*  Ugh  !  "  he  growled,  when  he  caught  sight  of  me  ;  but  he 
had  no  chance  to  sound  an  alarm,  for  I  sprang  at  his  throa' 
just  as  he  was  rising,  and  bore  him  to  th  )  earth. 


218  THE  BUSHKANGEBS. 


CHAPTER    XXXn. 

tHE    EOBBEK's    death.  EUSHRANGEBS    SUEPEISED.  — -THB 

ATTACK   AND    FLIGHT. MURDeVs    ALARM. 

"  You  scoundrel !  "  I  whispered,  as  the  man  fell  upon  bia 
bank,  and  I  placed  my  knee  upon  liis  breast,  "  tell  me  where 
Keeler  and  his  men  are,  or  I'll  blow  your  brains  out ! " 

He  made  a  motion  for  me  to  release  his  throat,  so  that  he 
could  speak,  and  I  complied  with  his  wishes,  thinking  that 
the  muzzle  of  a  pistol  which  one  of  the  men  placed  at  his 
head  would  deter  him  from  giving  an  alarm ;  but  the  swarthy 
villain  was  not  intimidated  in  the  least.  Perhaps  he  thought 
that  the  threat  was  a  vain  one,  and  that  he  could  really  serve 
his  comrades  ;  for  as  I  released  his  throat  he  uttered  a  shrill 
yell  that  could  have  been  heard  for  half  a  mile.  I  knew 
what  it  meant.  It  was  the  signal  that  danger  was  near ;  but 
the  prisoner  did  not  have  time  to  repeat  it,  for  my  hands 
once  more  clasped  his  throat,  and  at  the  same  moment  the 
policeman,  who  held  the  pistol,  discharged  it,  for  he  was  a 
man  who  knew  no  mercy  when  bushrangers  were  arrested. 
The  ball  entered  the  poorvfellow's  head,  and  as  it  struck  it 
sent  a  shower  of  brains  all  over  me,  and  for  a  moment  I  felt 
60  sick  that  I  thought  I  should  faint ;  but  I  recovered  in  an  in- 
stant, and  then  turned  on  the  policeman  who  had  fired  the  shot. 

"  Who  told  you  to  do  that  r "  I  asked,  horrified  at  tlie 
murder,  and  at  the  cool  manner  in  which  it  was  performeii. 

*'  You  did,  sir,"  was  the  calm  answer. 

*'  You  lie  !     I  told  you  nothing  of  the  kind." 

'*  You  threatened  the  man,  and  said  that  you'd  kill  him  if 
ae  made  a  noise.  I  s'posed  you  was  in  earnest ;  so  I  jist 
put  a  ball  through  his  head." 

"  This  is  no  time  to  settle  the  question,"  I  cried.  "  The 
bushrangers  will  be  on  guard  if  we  remain  here  a  moment 
longer.     Forward ! " 

We  all  charged  up  the  hill  on  a  run,  and  just  then  the 


BUSHRANGERS  SURPRISED.  219 

mist  suddenly  dissolved  and  revealed  some  eight  or  ten  meu 
standing  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  apparently  listening  for  a 
repetition  of  the  warning  signal  which  their  comrade  had 
given  a  moment  before.  They  were  not  more  than  fifteen 
rods  from  us,  and  among  the  group  I  recognized  the  tall  form 
of  Keeler.  But  the  leader  of  the  bushrangers  was  not  a  man 
to  run  without  good  cause.  He  was  a  bold  fellow,  and 
would  have  made  an  excellent  soldier ;  but  he  did  dread  the 
eight  of  half  a  dozen  blue  uniforms,  for  he  knew  that  no 
mercy  would  be  shown  Mm  if  the  law  once  laid  hands  on  his 
person  ;  so  when  he  heard  the  commissioner's  voice,  he  re- 
plied, with  a  rallying  war-cry,  — 

*'  Death  to  the  traps  !  Stand  firm  and  give  it  to  them." 
I  think  that  about  four  or  five  out  of  the  ten  bushrangers 
raised  their  muskets  as  though  to  fire  ;  but  the  others  glanced 
over  their  shoulders,  and  that  I  knew  was  a  sure  sign  that 
they  were  slightly  demoralized,  and  decided  to  change  their 
base  as  quick  as  possible.  In  the  meantime  we  were  ad- 
vancing at  double-quick  time ;  but  I  was  not  in  such  a  hui-ry 
that  I  failed  to  watch  all  the  motions  of  the  enemy,  and  when 
I  saw  them  raise  their  guns,  I  just  shouted  for  a  halt. 
"  Halt  be  d— d  !  "  roared  Murden.  *'  What  for  r " 
"  Ready  —  aim  —  fire  !  "  I  yelled  ;  and  at  the  last  word  the 
police  poured  a  volley  into  the  ranks  of  the  bushrangers, 
and  at  the  same  moment  the  villains  gave  us  a  few  scattering 
shots,  one  of  which  was  aimed  at  me,  and  by  Keeler's  hand. 
It  passed  within  a  few  inches  of  my  scalp,  raised  my  cap  as 
though  to  take  it  from  my  head,  and  then  the  bullet  sped  on, 
and  struck  a  poor  fellow  who  was  just  behind  me,  knocking 
him  down  with  a  ball  in  his  shoulder.  A  second  bullet 
passed  through  the  breast  of  a  young  fellow  who  was  on  the 
left  of  the  line,  and  down  he  dropped  dead.  In  addition  lo 
this,  there  were  some  narrow  escapes  similar  to  my  own. 
Our  own  discharge  was  more  destructive.  Four  of  the  bush- 
rangers fell,  killed  or  wounded  ;  but  Keeler  was  'uninjured, 
for  I  heard  his  deep,  sonorous  voice  cry  out, — 

'  Kill  the  d — d  traps!   down  with  them!"  advice  which 
was  not  followed  by  his  men ;   for  they  gave  one  look  at 


220  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

our  advancing  columns,  a  second  glance  at  their  own  dea4 
and  wounded,  and  then  turned  and  ran  for  their  lives,  throw- 
ing away  their  guns  as  they  dashed  down  the  mountain, 
springing  from  rock  to  rock  like  a  flock  of  scared  goats. 

Keeler  paused  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  shook  his  fist 
at  us  in  a  threatening  manner,  and  then  ran  across  the  plain 
that  skirted  a  piece  of  woods.  But  just  before  he  disappeared 
he  stopped,  and  insulted  us  with  a  gesture,  the  meaning  of 
which  wi)  comprehended  without  the  aid  of  a  dictionary. 

"  D — n  him !  "  muttered  Murden,  who  seemed  to  think 
that  the  gesture  was  intended  for  his  especial  benefit ;  "  if  I 
had  him  in  my  power  I'd  kill  him,  or  I'd  know  the  reason  why." 

"  But  as  he  was  too  quick  for  us  this  time,  we  shall  have 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  some  other  day,"  I  remarked. 

"  Humph  !  yes,  I  suppose  so  ;  "  for.  Englishman-like,  Mur- 
den was  not  quite  satisfied  with  his  victory.  He  wanted  the 
glory  of  saying  that  the  last  man  of  Keeler's  band  was  dead, 
and  that  the  roads  were  free. 

*'  I  think  we  have  done  enough,"  I  said,  "  to  satisfy  you 
and  the  government.  We  have  destroyed  one  half  of  a  des- 
perate band,  and  I  think  you  can  glorify  yourself  and  your 
men,  and  with  ample  ground  for  all  that  you  say." 

The  mouth  of  the  cave  was  so  well  concealed  that  none 
of  the  men  had  as  yet  discovered  it ;  so,  after  a  brief  survey 
of  the  country,  so  as  to  be  satisfied  that  none  of  the  bush- 
rangers were  lurking  near,  I  led  the  way  to  the  entrance, 
Murden  following  close  to  my  heels. 

I  pulled  aside  the  brush,  and  exposed  the  mouth  of  the 
cave  ;  but,  for  fear  of  a  trap,  I  sent  the  hound  in  to  explore. 
He  obeyed  me  without  the  least  hesitation,  and  while  he  was 
absent  we  listened  with  much  attention.  All  was  quiet;  but 
at  last  we  heard  a  movement,  and  then  a  voice  exclaimed,  in 
querulous  tones,  — 

*'  Ah  !  be  aisy  wid  yer  kissin'  an  old  woman.  I'd  be 
ashamed  of  meself ;  that's  what  I  would.  It's  liberties  yer 
takin',  and  I  an  honest  woman.  Go  way  wid  yer,  and  don't 
come  blarnyin'  round  me,  or  ye'U  feel  me  fut  in  a  place  ye 
won't  like.     Do  ye  mind,  now,  ye  divil  on  airth." 


BESCUE  OF  AN  ENGLISH  BARONET.  221 


CHAPTER  XXXm. 

KESCITE    or    AN    ENGLISH    BAEONET. HIS    ADYENTTTKES.  — 

A    STKANGE    SIGHT. 

The  sight  which  met  our  gaze  as  we  entered  the  robbers* 
cave,  revolvers  in  hand,  was  so  peculiar  and  extraordinary 
that  we  stopped  upon  the  threshold,  and  surveyed  the  scene 
before  us,  uncertain  whether  to  laugh  or  assume  a  serious 
mien.  In  one  corner,  where  I  had  found  protection  under 
a  lot  of  old  clothing,  was  stretched  the  fat  form  of  Mother 
Brown ;  and,  to  my  horror  and  dismay,  she  had  upon  her 
portly  person  but  one  garment,  and  that  one  such  as  ladies 
usually  wear  next  to  their  skin.  The  woman  was  stretched 
out  upon  her  back,  apparently  sleeping  most  soundly,  while 
standing  over  her,  with  a  puzzled  expression  upon  his  face, 
was  Rover ;  and,  as  though  to  waken  her  to  life,  he  was 
slobbering  her  tanned  face  with  his  huge  red  tongue. 

"  Be  aisy,  ye  divil !  "  she  murmured.  "  Don't  take  any 
more  liberties  wid  a  woman  what  ain't  gpt  more  clothes  on 
than  a  leedy  like  meself.  If  ye  is  honest  in  yer  intentions, 
ye  can  take  me  afore  the  priest,  and  then  ye  can  have  the 
right  to  do  as  ye  plase,  honey." 

This  was  too  much  for  Murden.  He  laughed  until  the 
cave  seemed  full  of  echoes ;  but  it  had  no  effect  upon 
Mother  Brown,  who  continued  to  sleep,  and  the  dog  con- 
tinued to  mop  her  face  as  inclination  prompted  him.  But 
hardly  had  our  laughter  died  away,  when  we  heard  a  deep 
groan  in  the  darkest  corner  of  the  cavern,  in  a  quarter  where 
the  light  did  not  penetrate  sufficiently  for  our  eyes  to  reach. 

'•  Who  is  there  ?"  I  asked,  and  took  a  step  forward. 

"  If  you  are  men  and  Christians,  help  me,"  said  a  feebL 
voice. 

"Who  are  you?"  I  cried,  as  I  advanced,  followed  hy 
Murden,  while  the  dog  left  his  prey,  and  trotted  towards  the 
new  applicant  for  aid. 


222  THE  BUSHKANGERS. 

•'  A  pocT,  unfortunate  man,  who  has  been  made  a  prisoner 
by  a  curse  1  band  of  highwaymen.  I  pray  Heaven  that  you 
don't  belong  to  it." 

**  Have  no  fear  of  us,"  I  answered ;  and  by  this  time  I 
had  reached  the  prisoner,  and  was  kneeling  down  by  hi? 
side. 

The  person  who  claimed  our  help  was  lying  on  his  back, 
heavily  ironed,  and  chained  to  the  wall  of  the  cave ;  so  that 
escape  was  impossible. 

But  in  spite  of  his  gray  hair  and  age,  the  prisoner  was 
one  of  the  best  looking  men  that  I  had  ever  seen.  His  face 
was  stamped  with  such  a  noble  expression,  so  full  of  dignity 
and  kindness,  that  I  knew  he  was  no  ordinary  person, 
and  I  was  determined  to  know  more  of  him  before  we 
parted. 

But  those  eyes  —  where  had  I  seen  them  ?  They  were  so 
handsome,  dark  blue,  with  long  eyelashes,  and  seemed  to 
recall  to  my  mind  some  one's  face,  and  yet  I  could  not  think 
whose.  I  taxed  my  memory  to  its  utmost,  but  was  un- 
successful. At  last  I  spoke  to  the  prisoner,  thinking  that 
his  memory  might  help  me. 

"  Your  face  appears  familiar  to  me,"  I  said.  "  Where  can 
I  have  seen  you  ? " 

"  I  am  sure  I  cannot  answer  the  question,"  was  the  care- 
less answer.  "You  policemen  often  note  faces  —  it  is  your 
trade." 

The  reply  nettled  me,  it  was  delivered  in  such  a  peculiar 
manner  —  as  though  it  was  not  of  the  slightest  consequence 
whether  we  had  ever  met  before  or  not. 

'*  My  trade  is  not  that  of  a  policeman,"  was  my  reply,  and 
in  as  haughty  a  tone  as  I  could  assume. 

"0,  isn't  it  ?  "  and  then  the  prisoner  glanced  at  his  irons, 
and  continued :  "  Well,  I  wish  you  were  a  machinint,  or  a 
locksmith,  or  could  pick  the  locks  which  fasten  these  irons, 
for  they  are  galling  my  flesh,  and  I  should  be  grateful  if  they 
were  off." 

"  I  am  neither,"  I  answered,  and  was  about  to  walk  oif 
«uhen  Hez  ca^ne  forward. 


THE  BARONET'S  ADVENTUREi^.  223 

"  Let  me  see  them  'ere  locks,"  he  said.  "  P'aps  1  can  do 
somethin'  with  'em." 

"  Then  you're  the  man  for  me,"  returned  the  dignified- 
looking  prisoner ;  "  and  if  you  free  me  I  will  amply  reward 
you." 

"  Don't  want  no  reward  for  work  like  that  'ere,"  was  Hez's 
answer,  with  all  of  a  Yankee's  independence.  "  I'll  be  gol 
iarned  if  I  can't  snake  'em  off!     You  jist  wait  a  minute." 

The  New  Hampshire  born  man  searched  his  pockets,  and 
produced  a  stout  wire,  a  file,  and  a  miniature  vice.  He  put 
the  wire  into  the  latter,  filed  it  to  a  point,  bent  it  in  a  pecul- 
iar manner,  so  that  it  bore  some  resemblance  to  a  skeleton 
key,  and  after  he  was  satisfied  that  it  was  all  right,  he  thrust 
it  into  the  lock,  worked  it  about  in  a  cautious  manner,  and 
at  last  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  lock  fall  off,  and  the 
irons  removed. 

"  Well  done,  my  friend,"  cried  the  stranger  ;  "  you  have 
as  much  ingenuity  as  a  Yankee." 

"  Wal,  ain't  I  a  Yankee  ?  "  retorted  Hez.  "  You  didn't  go 
for  to  suppose  that  I  was  a  pig-headed,  beef-fed  Englishman, 
did  ye?" 

The  stranger  laughed,  as  he  answered, : — 

"  You  are  complimentary  to  my  countrymen,  I  must  con- 
fess ;  but  I  suppose  they  will  forgive  you.  If  they  don't,  I 
will." 

"  He  is  not  so  prejudiced  against  our  women  as  he  is 
against  the  men,"  retorted  Murden,  —  a  remark  that  made 
Hez  blush,  and  look  as  silly  as  a  sheep. 

"  0  !  but  few  can  withstand  the  influence  of  our  ladies," 
responded  the  stranger  in  a  gallant  tone,  as  he  rubb-^d  his 
limbs,  and  tried  to  restore  the  circulation  to  them. 

"And  the  Americans  are  especially  susceptible  to  the 
tender  passion,"  Murden  remarked,  and  cast  a  sly  glance  at 
me,  which  the  stranger  noted. 

"  Ho,  ho  ! "  he  said,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  "  we  have 
another  American  in  the  person  of  that  gentleman,  have 
we  ?  Well,  I  like  them,  and  wish  there  were  more  of  them 
in  this  country.     But  how  does  it  happen  that  I  find  two 


224  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

persons  from  the  United  States  in  the  police  service  in  tbi» 
country  ?  " 

"  I  have  already  told  you  that  I  am  not  in  the  police  ser- 
vice,"  I  said. 

"  0,  so  you  did  ;  I  had  forgotten,"  the  stranger  replied, 
in  a  careless  manner,  and  continued  to  chafe  his  wrists ;  and 
while  he  was  thus  employed,  I  took  a  second  survey  of  the 
aian,  and  in  spite  of  the  dirt  which  covered  his  garments, 
and  the  general  neglect  of  his  toilet,  I  could  not  help  feeling 
that  the  stranger  was  a  gentleman  —  one  who  had  moved 
in  good  society,  and  had  been  accustomed  to  respect  and 
deference. 

But  Murden  soon  set  all  doubts  at  rest ;  for  after  he  had 
directed  that  the  bodies  of  the  dead  should  be  searched  and 
buried,  and  our  own  wounded  attended  to  in  as  comfortable 
a  manner  as  possible,  he  asked  the  stranger,  in  his  usual 
business-like,  policeman  style,  a  series  of  questions. 

"Pray,  sir,  what  is  your  name?"  the  commissioner  de- 
manded, taking  out  a  book  and  making  a  note. 

The  stranger  stopped  chafing  his  wrists,  and  looked  up. 

"0,  my  name  you  want,  do  you  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  it  is  Byefield." 

*'  Have  you  either  trade  or  profession  ? " 

The  stranger  laughed. 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  I  regret  to  state  that  I  was  not 
brought  up  to  either.  My  parents  had  some  vague  idea 
that  I  should  play  the  part  of  a  gentleman." 

"  As  this  is  not  a  country  in  which  gentlemen  flourish,  I 
stall  have  to  require  a  statement  more  definite,"  the  com- 
missioner remarked.  "  The  fact  of  it  is,"  he  continued,  "  it 
I-j  for  me  to  determine  whether  you  belong  to  the  gang,  oi 
was  a  prisoner,  as  you  state." 

"  I  think  that  I  have  proof  enough  of  the  latter ; "  and 
Mr.  Byefield  pointed  to  the  irons  which  had  been  removed 
Crom  his  hands  and  feet. 

'*  Ah,  but  those  amount  to  nothing.  Keeler  would  have 
served  any  mutinoi  s  member  of  his  gang  in  the  same  w^ay.** 


THE  BARONET'S  ADVENTURES  225 

"  True,  I  did  not  think  of  that ;  "  and  the  prisoner  began 
DDce  moro  1o  chafe  his  wrists,  as  though  that  was  all  the  work 
he  had  in  his  mind  at  the  time. 

Murden  winked  at  me,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  We  have  a 
queer  customer  here,"  and  then  continued  the  interrogations  : 

"  I  must  have  direct  answers  to  all  my  questions." 

The  prisoner  looked  up,  as  though  surprised  at  the  remark. 

*•  If  such  is  the  case,  I  am  bound  to  answer  them;  '*  and 
Blr.  Byefield  smiled  in  a  quiet,  subdued  sort  of  manner,  as 
though  he  had  no  secrets  from  the  police. 

"  Well,  sir,"  continued  Murden,  making  an  effort  to  wr'te 
in  his  note-book,  "  be  pleased  to  give  your  name  in  full." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  did  hope  to  escape  such  a  necessity,  for  I 
have  no  relish  for  notoriety.  I  came  here  to  attempt  to 
accomplish  certain  objects,  and  I  fear  that  if  my  name  is 
known  my  purposes  will  be  defeated." 

"  Ah,"  cried  Murden,  with  a  sififf  like  a  war-horse,  *'  you 
are  a  London  detective  ;   I  know  you  are." 

A  smile,  but  rather  a  contemptuous  one,  passed  over  the 
punburnt  face  of  Mr.  Byefield ;  but  Murden  did  not  notice 
it.  He  was  too  much  excited  at  the  thought  of  having  met 
a  brother  officer.  He  held  out  his  hand,  but  Mr.  Byefield 
did  not  seem  inclined  to  take  it. 

"  Perhaps  I  can  help  you,"  Murden  continued.  "  The 
whole  force  of  the  police  shall  be  at  your  disposal  if  neces- 
sary." 

"  Thank  you ;  but  before  you  make  many  promises,  let 
ae  undeceive  you.     I  am  not  a  London  detective." 

"  The  devil  you  ain't !  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Then  who  in  thunder  are  you  ? " 

Murden  was  so  much  disappointed  that  he  was  growiDa 
impolite. 

"  I  am  called,"  the  stranger  said,  in  a  calm  tone,  and 
with  all  the  dignity  of  a  thorough-bred  gentleman,  "  Sir 
William  Byefield,  of  Lancaster,  England,  where  I  have 
estates  which  have  been  held  by  my  ancestors  for  the  yasi 
six  hundred^years." 


226  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

0  rank,  wlil  t  charms  thou  hast  for  au  Englishman  !  Ho^ 
the  sons  of  Great  Britain  will  humiliate  ihemselves  before 
thee,  and  kiss  the  ground  on  which  thou  walkest !  And 
Murden,  into  whose  mind  I  had  endeavored  to  instil  the 
principles  of  republicanism,  and  a  most  hearty  contempt 
for  all  the  extravagant  forms  of  royalty,  felt  the  influence 
of  rank  and  a  name,  even  as  announced  by  the  individual 
before  us,  dirty  as  he  appeared  to  my  eyes.  The  commis- 
sioner stepped  back  and  raised  his  hand  to  his  hat,  in  token 
of  respect,  —  for  titles  were  not  so  plenty  in  Australia  as 
in  London,  —  and  then  asked,  in  a  tone  that  was  the  very 
essence  of  respectfulness, — 

"  Sir  William,  can  you  give  me  any  proof  that  such  is 
^our  rank  ?  You  will  excuse  me  for  asking ;  but  recollect 
[  am  a  police  officer,  and  feel  compelled  by  duty  to  make 
nquiries." 

The  stranger  laughed  a  frank  sort  of  laugh ;  such  a  one 
48  he  would  have  uttered  if  his  butler  had  asked  if  he 
v>ould  have  ten  pounds  until  the  next  quarter  day. 

"  The  proof  of  my  statement  will  depend  very  much  upon 
the  contents  of  my  valise,  which  I  believe  the  bushrangers 
deposited  in  the  cave.  I  do  not  know  but  they  have 
destroyed  all  my  papers.  If  they  have  not,  you  will  find 
ample  evidence  that  my  report  is  true.  At  any  rate,  the 
bushrangers  seemed  to  know  my  worth,  for  they  offered  to 
ransom  me  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  sterling ; 
and,  faith,  they  would  have  got  it  if  you  had  not  rescued 
me,  for  I  had  at  length  concluded  to  send  an  order  to  Mel- 
bourne for  that  amount.  The  courier  left  yesterday,  but 
the  order  was  not  payable  until  ten  days  after  date.  Now, 
Mr.  {^lommissioner,  if  you  will  send  for  my  valise,  I'll  see 
what  there  is  in  it." 

Murden  despatched  a  man  without  delay,  and  he  returned 
with  the  article.  The  baronet  opened  his  valise,  and  found 
csome  of  his  papers  unmolested,  while  others  appeared  to 
have  been  removed,  which  caused  him  to  utter  expressions 
of  impatience  and  annoyance. 

*'  Nothing  lost,  I  hope.  Sir  William,"  cried  Murden.     "  If 


THE  BARONET'S  ADV^ENTURES.  227 

the  rascals  have  dared  to  steal  any  of  your  impt  rtant  doc- 
uments, m  follow  them  all  over  the  country,  but  I'll  bring 
them  to  justice." 

"  Yes,  I  have  no  doubt  but  you  will,  Mr.  Officer,"  re- 
turned the  baronet,  in  a  careless  tone,  as  though  such 
homage  was  his  due  ;  "  but  there  is  one  paper  which  is  of 
no  value  to  any  person  excepting  myself.  It  was  simply  a 
description;   and  yet,  strange  to  say,  it  is  gone." 

"  Look  around,  men,  and  see  if  you  can  find  it,"  the  com- 
missioner  cried ;  and  in  obedience  to  the  order,  the  men 
commenced  peering  into  every  bush  and  through  the  cave ; 
but  they  were  not  successful.  In  the  mean  time  Sir  "Williart 
had  gathered  up  a  handful  of  letters  and  thrust  them  into 
Murden's  hand. 

"  If  you  will  take  the  trouble  to  read  some  of  those,  you. 
will  be  satisfied  that  I  am  the  person  I  represent  myself 
to  be." 

"  These  papers  are  perfectly  satisfactory,  Sir  William," 
the  commissioner  said,  *'  and  I  feel  glad  to  be  able  to  offer 
you  any  assistance  in  my  power,  although  your  visit  to  Aus- 
tralia is  a  —  " 

"  Secret,  sir,"  was  the  answer.  "I  did  not  come  here 
for  gold.  I  did  not  come  here  to  examine  the  country  ;  but 
what  I  did  come  for  must  remain  unknown  to  you,  for  the 
present,  at  least,  although  the  time  may  come  when  you  will 
be  able  to  help  me." 

"  I  hope  so,  Sir  William,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  should 
be  proud  to  render  you  some  assistance.  Y.ou  can  depend 
upon  me." 

*'  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  of  it,  sir,"  the  baronet  replied, 
with  a  wave  of  hii  hand,  as  though  it  was  an  honor  to  serve 
»  man  of  good  blood,  even  without  the  hope  of  reward ;  abu 
then  Sir  William,  as  though  he  had  performed  his  duty  in 
acknowledging  Murden's  offer  of  assistance,  turned  to  me, 
and  said,  — 

"  It  is  a  little  singular,  Mr.  American,  that  I  did  not  rey- 

ognlze  you  when  first   we  met.     I  am  sure   Lady  C 

^le5cribed  you  in  the  most  accurate  n^anner.  She  has  a  nice 
i6 


228  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

Bense  of  gratitude,  and  each  time  that  she  looks  at  her  dia- 
monds she  blesses  your  name." 

'*  I  hope  that  she  still  recollects  me,  Sir  William,"  Mur- 
den  said. 

"  Yes,   I  suppose   so ;  although   she    did  not  appear  to 

revere   your  name.      I  have  no  doubt  that  Lady  C is 

pi  ofoundly  grateful  to  you.     Egad  !  a  woman  should  be." 

"  By  the  way,  Mr.  Commissioner,"  the  baronet  cried^ 
*'  will  you  send  one  of  your  men  to  the  city  and  stop  that 
draft  ?     I'll  write  the  order  immediately." 

"  Certainly,  Sir  William." 

The  baronet  was  about  to  do  so,  when  we  heard  a  roar  of 
laughter  from  the  men  ;  and  on  looking  up  we  saw  so  strange 
a  spectacle  that  we  could  not  help  joining  in  the  merriment. 
The  cause  of  it  was  Mother  Brown,  who  had  slept  through 
the  din  and  racket,  and  had  just  awakened  to  consciousness, 
and  staggered  into  the  open  air,  minus  a  dress,  but  clothed 
in  an  under-garment,  none  too  clean,  and  none  too  long. 
For  a  moment  the  woman  looked  around  with  semi-sobriety 
and  semi-drunken  gravity,  and  then,  as  her  glance  fell  upon 
Sir  William,  she  uttered  a  shrill  shriek,  and  tumbled  to  the 
ground ;  and  so  heavily  did  she  fall  that  the  earth  shook 
when  she  touched  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

IfOTHER    brown's    MYSTERY.  A    SEARCH    FOR    GOLD.  A 

TERRIBLE    SURPRISE. 

I  DID  not  understand  why  Mother  Brown  should  shriek 
and  tumble  to  the  ground.  She  certainly  had  seen  nothing 
to  alarm  her,  with  the  exception  of  the  police  uniforms  ;  so 
I  was  forced  to  conclude  that  her  illness  was  produced 
through  strong  drink.  In  the  mean  time  she  was  lying  on 
the  ground  like  a  log,  and  in  a  most  uncomfortable  position ; 
And  the  men,  instead  of  lending  her  some  assistance,  wer<5 


MOTHER  BROWN'S  MYSTERY.  22d 

laughing  at  tlie  sight,  for  they  considered  her  beyond  the 
Bcale  of  humanity,  and  were  too  much  accustomed  to  such 
sights  to  care  for  them.  But  I  was  determined  that  she 
should  not  suffer,  so  I  ran  towards  her,  straightened  out  her 
limbs  and  neck ;  and  then  threw  cold  water  upon  her  fi.ce, 
and  sent  one  of  the  officers  to  the  stream  for  more ;  but 
before  he  returned  Mother  Brown  gave  some  evidence  o^ 
life,  and  at  last  sat  up,  and  stared  at  me  in  a  wild  sort  of 
manner,  as  though  she  did  not  recollect  to  have  seen  mcj 
before . 

"  Where's  Keeler  ? "  she  asked. 

"  He's  fled.  The  traps  have  driven  him  away,  after  kill- 
ing some  of  his  men.     He  won't  come  back  again." 

She  looked  at  me  for  a  moment  without  uttering  a  word ; 
but  at  last  her  mind  seemed  to  comprehend  something,  for 
she  said,  "Where's  the  clothes  ye  stole  from  me?  It's 
naked  ye  left  me,  taking  the  only  frock  I  had  in  the  world. 
Ah,  it's  scandilous  the  way  ye  trated  me.  Give  me  the 
frock,  so  I  can  cover  me  nakedness,  and  not  put  me  to  blush 
afore  all  the  men." 

"  Have  patience,  and  you  shall  have  the  best  frock  that  I 
can  purchase  in  Melbourne.  Don't  think  that  I  have  for- 
gotten the  manner  in  which  you  saved  my  life." 

"  Ah,  yes  ;  now  I  remember.  I  saved  ye  on  Jenny's  ac- 
count. Had  it  not  been  for  me,  divil  a  bit  would  she  have 
knowed  ye  for  a  husband.  Yes,  lad,"  the  old  woman  chuckled, 
"I  know  the  blue-eyed  lass,  and  I'll  help  yer  with  her. 
Ah !  ye  may  smile,  but  I  can  do  more  than  ye  think  for. 
Time  will  come  when  ye  will  say  so." 

Whik  she  was  speaking,  Sir  William  approached  the 
gi'oup.  I  saw  Mother  Brown's  eyes  rest  upon  the  baronet's 
face,  but  only  for  a  moment ;  but  that  brief  time  was  suffi- 
ci3nt  to  satisfy  me  that  she  had  met  him  at  some  period  of 
h(3i  life,  and  was  now  desirous  that  he  should  not  recollect 
her.  I  don't  know  what  made  me  think  so.  I  am  sure  that 
Sir  William  did  not  appear  to  regard  her  in  the  light  of  an 
acquaintance,  for  I  saw  on  his  aristocratic  face  only  an 
expression   of  deep    disgust,  but   no   sign   of  recognitic  n. 


230  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

MotLt'j  Brown  turned  her  head  as  soon  as  she  met  the  ear- 
nest gaze  of  the  baronet,  and  I  saw  her  pass  her  hands  ovei 
her  eyes,  and  heard  her  murmur,  — 

**  Indade,  then,  I  did  not  drame  it.     It  is  himself." 

Just  at  this  instant  Sir  William  happened  to  pass  near, 
when  she  shuddered  as  though  she  had  seen  a  ghost.  She 
turned  abruptly  away,  so  that  he  did  not  notice  her  face,  and 
then  retired  to  the  cave  in  a  precipitate  manner.  No  one, 
excepting  myself,  noticed  her  movements ;  so  there  was  no 
remark  made  by  the  men.  As  Mother  Brown  gained  the 
entrance  of  the  cave,  she  turned  and  motioned  for  me  to 
come  near  her.  I  obeyed  the  summons ;  and  when  I  was 
within  whispering  distance  I  saw  her  face  had  undergone  a 
great  change'.  She  appeared  to  be  perfectly  sober,  as 
though  she  had  experienced  some  shock  of  an  unexpected 
kind,  which  had  driven  the  liquor  entirely  from  her  head. 
Her  face,  naturally  red,  was  pale  ;  and  her  limbs  trembled. 

"  My  boy,"  she  whispered,  '*  I  must  lave  this  place.  Can 
I  go?" 

*'  Yes  ;  but  where  do  you -wish  to  go  to  ? " 

'*  Divil  a  bit  do  I  know.  But  I  must  lave,  though,  for  all 
that.     I  can't  stay  here  another  hour.     It  would  kill  me." 

**  Can  you  ride  ? "  I  asked. 

-  Yes." 

I  tore  a  leaf  from  a  note-book,  and  wrote  to  Smith,  ask- 
ing him  to  let  his  wife  see  that  Mother  Brown  was  properly 
dressed  and  cared  for  until  my  return.  This  I  gave  to  her, 
apd  to  prevent  her  losing  it  she  pinned  it  to  her  —  well,  call 
it  under-garment. 

"  Do  you  know  the  way  to  Smith's  farm  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Sure  I  do.     It's  in  the  valley." 

*'  Yes.     G-o  there  and  wait  for  me." 

'*  I  will.     Anywhere,  to  lave  here." 

"  And  mind  that  you  keep  sober." 

"  Divil  a  drop  will  I  touch,  even  if  whiskey  is  offered  me." 

**  That  is  right.     Now  follow  me." 

I  led  the  way  down  the  hill,  no  one  excepting  Murden 
Mid  Hez  noticing  me.     We  reached  the  place  where  the 


A  SilAKCH  FOLl   GOLD.  231 

horbes  were  tied.  Two  men  were  with  them,  and  tliey  ^ere 
Bomcwhat  astonished  at  oiir  appearance. 

"  Which  horse  belonged  to  Jones  ? "  I  asked. 

"  This  one,  sir ;  "  and  the  policeman  pointed  to  a  stout  cob. 

"  Poor  fellow !  he  will  never  want  him  again.  Lead  the 
animal  this  way." 

After  Mother  Brown  was  mounted,  and  her  garment  ad- 
justed in  a  satisfactory  manner,  I  turned  the  head  of  the 
horse  in  the  direction  of  Smith's  house,  and  told  her  to 
hurry  on  and  wait  for  me.  I  saw  her  disappear,  and  then  I 
once  more  rejoined  my  friends. 

"  Where  is  the  woman  ? "  asked  Murden. 

"  I  have  sent  her  to  Smith's  house  for  a  fit-out  of  cloth- 
ing," I  replied. 

"  The  devil  you  did !     Why,  she's  a  prisoner  !  " 

"  Well,  you'll  find  her  when  you  want  her  company." 

Tlie  sun  was  beating  down  most  intensely,  so  that  the 
men  were  glad  to  seek  shelter  under  the  shade  of  the  bushes 
and  stunted  trees,  where  they  could  smoke  their  pipes  or 
sleep,  just  as  they  pleased.  But  Murden  and  I  did  not  care 
for  a  nap  just  at  that  time,  although  we  pretended  that  we 
needed  one.  We  had  other  business  to  look  after  as  soon 
aa  the  men  had  closed  their  eyes  and  lost  consciousness. 
We  were  anxious  to  solve  the  mystery  of  the  cave.  We 
longed  to  stir  the  earth  in  one  corner,  and  see  if  Keeler  had 
removed  his  treasures,  and  mentally  I  was  calculating  how 
much  they  would  amount  to.  While  I  was  indulging  in  such 
a  reverie,  Murden  poked  me  with  his  elbow. 

"  Come,"  he  whispered;  "we'll  visit  the  cave,  and  see  if 
anything  turns  up.     Softly,  now;  don't  make  a  noise." 

We  walked  towards  the  cave  in  a  quiet  and  cautious  man- 
ner. No  one  noticed  us,  nor  was  a  single  head  raised.  We 
entered  the  cave,  listened  for  a  moment  to  see  if  any  one 
had  followed  us ;  and  when  we  found  that  no  one  had,  we 
commenced  removing  the  clothes  which  covered  the  spot 
where  I  supposed  the  treasure  was  buried. 

"The  earth  has  recently  been  disturbed  here,"  whispered 
Murden,  as  ne  felt  with  his  hands,  and  discovered  how  loose 


232  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

the  grouiid  seemed.  "  I  wonder  if  that  cunning  cuss  has 
carried  off  his  plunder.     K  he  has,  I'll  never  forgive  Liia." 

While  Murden  was  speaking,  he  was  scraping  away  the 
earth,  digging  it  up  with  a  stick  which  he  found  near  the  pile 
of  clothes. 

"Can't  you  find  a  shovel  for  me?"  the  commissioner 
asked.     *'  It's  such  deuced  slow  work  with  a  stick." 

'■'  I  think  so.  At  any  rate,  I'll  see  what  I  can  do  ; "  and  I 
crossed  to  the  other  side  of  the  cave,  and  searched  around,  but 
found  nothing  excepting  a  large  spoon.  Just  as  I  was  about 
to  stoop  and  pick  it  up,  I  heard  some  one  breathing  hard,  as 
though  laboring  under  considerable  excitement,  or  else  under 
much  fatigue.     I  thought  it  was  the  commissioner ;  so  I  said : 

"  What  in  the  devil's  name  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  Have 
you  found  the  gold  ?  " 

*'  No  ;  but  I'm  hard  on  to  it.  Hurry  up  something  forme 
to  dig  with.'* 

I  tossed  him  the  spoon,  and  he  recommenced  work,  throw- 
ing out  the  dirt  with  much  eagerness. 

"  Thunder !  I  wish  that  I  had  a  shovel,"  muttered  the 
commissioner. 

I  was  standing,  looking  over  my  friend's  shoulder,  when 
the  remark  was  made,  and  to  my  intense  astonishment  a  deep 
bass  voice  just  back  of  me  said,  "  How  will  this  suit  you  ?  " 

I  turned  and  saw,  within  two  feet  of  me,  with  a  cocked 
rerolver  in  each  hand,  the  vigorous  form  of  Keeler. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

A   VISIT    FKOM    KEELEK. HE     IS    URGENT    FOR    OTIR     COM- 
PANY.   DOINGS    AT    POINT    LOOKOUT. 

I  don't  think  I  was  ever  more  surprised  in  my  life  than  I 
was  when  I  turned  so  suddenly  and  saw  the  villanous  fea- 
tures of  Keeler.  I  couldn't  help  staggering  l)ack  a  pace  oi 
two ;  and  in  this  operation  I  stepped  upon  Murden's  feet, 
which  provoked  from  him  an  oath. 


A   VISIT  FROM  KEELER.  233 

-*  Wliat  in  time  are  you  about  ?  "  demanded  Murden,  who, 
strange  to  say,  such  was  his  eagerness  in  searcliing  for  gold, 
had  not  lieard  the  bushranger.  "Hang  it,  man,  can't  you 
keep  off  of  my  feet,  when  I'm  near  one  of  the  boxes  ? " 

I  could  not  respond  to  ihat  subdued  shout  of  congratu- 
lation. 

"  Do  J  m  hear  me  ?  "  demanded  Murden.  **  I  have  found 
eomething.  It  is  heavy,  and  I'll  wager  it  is  full  of  dust/* 
As  he  spoke,  he  got  up  from  his  knees,  holding  the  can  in 
his  hands,  and  so  intent  upon  examining  it  that  he  did  not 
even  notice  Keeler.  "  I  shall  claim  one  third,  old  feller," 
the  commissioner  continued.  "  You  know  the  bargain  we 
made." 

"  And  I  shall  claim  the  whole  ! "  said  the  deep  ba -s  voice 
of  Keeler. 

Murden  looked  up,  and  for  the  first  time  saw  the  bush- 
ranger and  his  threatening  attitude.  Of  course  the  commis- 
sioner was  surprised,  but  he  did  not  quail.  He  was  an  Eng- 
lishman, and  I  will  give  them  the  credit  of  being  brave  in  the 
presence  of  danger. 

'*  Hullo  ! ''  said  Murden  ;  "  where  in  the  devil's  name  did 
you  come  from  ? " 

*'  Speak  in  a  lower  tone,"  cried  Keeler,  in  a  hoarse  whis- 
per ;  "  and  while  you  speak,  remember  that  I  am  armed, 
that  I  am  desperate,  and  that  I  expect  to  lose  my  life  ;  but 
I  will  take  yours  in  return." 

"  That's  devilish  considerate  on  your  part,"  the  commis- 
sioner replied ;  "  but  before  I  die,  I'd  like  to  know  how 
you  passed  my  pickets,  so  that  after  I'm  dead  I  can  liaimt 
the  men  who  neglected  their  duty." 

''  Your  men  looked  sharp  enough,"  Keeler  answered,  "  but 
they  did  not  happen  to  see  me  when  I  passed  them.  I  am 
well  acquainted  with  the  neighborhood,  and  thought  tint  I 
would  return  and  secure  the  treasure  which  I  had  buried  for 
future  use.     It  appears  that  I  arrived  just  in  time." 

*'  So  it  seems.  Now  take  your  money  and  be  off ;  "  and 
Murden  rolled  the  can  towards  the  bushranger,  and  spok^;  in 


234  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

Bucli  a  aool  tone  that  I  thought  the  fellow  would  leave  us ; 
but  I  was  mistaken. 

"  When  I  go,  you  will  go  with  me,"  was  the  quiet  remark 
of  the  robber. 

"  But  suppose  I  decline  your  invitation  ?  "  Murden  said. 
"  I  have  no  desire  for  your  society,  unless  you  yield  as  a 
prisoner." 

"  That  I  shall  not  do.  You  are  mine,  and  I  shall  hold 
you.  When  I  leave  this  cave,  you  and  your  spying  compan- 
ion will  go  with  me.  If  either  of  you  make  the  least  noise, 
I  shall  end  your  days  in  short  order,  although  my  own  life 
pays  the  forfeit  of  the  act.  Now  be  warned  in  time.  My 
revolver  is  loaded,  and  never  failed  me.  If  you  resist,  and 
raise  an  alarm,  waking  your  companions,  they  will  nish  in 
only  to  find  two  corpses.     I  shall  escape." 

"  How  ? "  demanded  Murden,  in  a  sullen  tone. 

"  No  matter  how.  But  I  give  you  my  word  that  I  can 
disappear  with  wonderful  rapidity." 

"  I'd  like  to  see  you  do  it,"  the  commissioner  remarked. 

A  grim  smile  passed  over  Keeler's  face.  He  relished  just 
such  coolness. 

"  When  I  go,  you  will  go  with  me.  My  men  are  thirsty 
for  revenge.  They  have  lost  comrades  through  your  pur- 
suit, and  they  will  feel  better  if  they  can  see  you  experience 
gome  .of  the  tortures  which  their  friends  have  suffered." 

"  Thank  you  kindly  for  your  good  intentions,  but  I  don't 
choose  to  leave  the  cave  in  your  company ; "  and  Murden 
folded  his  arms,  and  looked  determined. 

A' flush  of  anger  passed  over  Keeler's  face.  He  raised 
his  revolver,  and  seemed  determined  to  blow  out  the  com- 
niissioner's  brains  ;  but  a  better  thought  restrained  him. 

*'  No,"  he  said,  "  I'll  not  kill  you  just  at  present.  I  came 
here  for  my  dust.  There  is  more  of  it  in  that  hole.  Dig, 
and  take  it  out." 

"  Suppose  we  divide  it,  and  call  it  all  right  ? "  the  commis- 
Bioner  asked.  '•  You  can  take  your  share,  and  go  to  the 
devil  with  it  if  you  like." 

"  I  shall  take  the  whole,  and  two  devils  with  me,"  was  the 


KEELER  IS  UKGENT  FOR  OUR  COMPANY.       233 

€Ool  rcjoiuder.  *'  But  we  waste  time  iu  argiimeuts.  Mj 
comrades  are  waiting  for  me.  If  I  remain  much  longer, 
they  will  think  that  some  misfortune  has  happened  to  me^ 
and  possibly  venture  upon  a  rescue." 

"  I  wish  they  would,"  cried  the  commissioner.  *'  My  boya 
would  handle  them  in  such  a  lively  manner,  that  they  would 
be  glad  to  run  a  second  time.  Can't  T  persuade  you  to  l3t 
them  come  ?  " 

"  Dig,"  replied  the  ruffian,  who  did  not  relish  such  joking  ; 
md  as  lie  spoke  he  raised  his  revolver  and  looked  most 
hroatening,  as  though  his  will  was  good  enough ;  but  pru- 
tence  restrained  him  from  firing,  for  he  knew  that  he  would 
mdanger  his  own  life. 

"  0,  you  want  me  to  dig,  do  you  ? "  the  commissioner 
isked,  in  a  sullen  tone,  as  though  just  awakened  from  a 
ieep  sleep. 

The  bujLranger  stamped  his  foot  with  impatience.  "  Time 
IF  precious —  dig!  " 

The  pistol  was  pointed  at  Murden's  head.  He  did  not 
ofier  to  resist  its  threatening  influence,  but  dropped  on  his 
knees  and  re-commenced  removing  the  dirt  from  the  hole 
where  the  treasure  was  buried.  Keeler  remained  at  a  con- 
venient distance  from  us,  and  watched  all  motions  with  the 
sagacity  of  a  tiger.  Murden  had  not  thrown  out  more  than 
half  a  bucket  full  of  dirt,  when  his  iron  spoon  struck  upon 
^ome  solid  substance. 

"  Here  it  is  ! "  cried  the  commissioner,  in  his  enthusiasm 
forgetting  the  presence  of  Keeler.  He  threw  out  a  few 
more  spoonfuls  of  earth,  and  then  lifted  a  large  tin  can,  such 
^s  preserved  meats  are  put  in.  The  can  was  nearly  a  foot 
k)ng,  and  so  heavy  that  it  required  most  of  Murden's  strength 
,0  raise  it  from  the  hole. 

"  The  devil,  but  it  is  heavy.  There  must  be  nearly  fifty 
pounds  of  dust  in  that  can,"  Murden  cried,  and  then  stood 
up  and  faced  the  bushranger. 

*'  There  is  all  of  that  in  the  can,"  was  the  quiet  reply. 
•'  And  now  that  you  have  brought  it  to  light,  just  yick  it  up 
ind  lead  the  way  out  of  the  cave." 


236  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"Faith,  I'll  do  that  very  readily ; "  for  Murden  thought 
there  was  but  one  entrance  to  the  cave,  and  he  was  about  to 
make  a  bolt  for  the  outer  world,  when  the  bushranger  stopped 
him  in  his  cool,  determined  way. 

"  Excuse  me,  but  you  doL*t  pass  out  in  sight  of  your  men, 
I  should  be  green  to  permit  such  a  course.  There  is  another 
passage-way  which  we  can  take." 

Murden  said,  "  O,  is  there  ? "  and  looked  a  little  dis- 
B|  pointed. 

*'  The  one  by  which  I  entered.  Come,  follow  me,  anfl  FU 
show  it  to  you." 

"  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  go  !  "  was  the  commissioner's  rough 
exclamation.  "  I've  foUowed  you  far  enough.  Now  shoot 
and  be  blessed,  for  I  go  no  farther  !  " 

"You'll  follow  me,  sir,"  Keeler  said,  and  once  more 
raised  his  revolver,  and  brought  it  to  bear  upon  the  com- 
missioner's head  —  an  act  that  did  not  alarm  me  much,  for  I 
had  learned  to  read  the  bushranger's  face. 

Murden  hesitated.  He  did  not  want  to  yield  too  soon^ 
because  he  had  said  that  he  would  not  leave  the  cave.  He 
wanted  the  privilege  of  arguing  for  a  moment,  partly  in 
hopes  that  some  of  his  men  would  enter  the  cave  and  rescue 
us,  and  partly  in  hopes  that  Keeler  would  take  his  treasure 
and  run  with  it.  We  were  just  opposite  the  front  entrance, 
or  rather  the  bushranger  was  there,  and  we  within  two  feet 
of  him.  Keeler  could  notice  if  any  one  offered  to  enter 
the  cave,  and  take  measures  accordingly.  But  of  that 
there  was  not  much  danger ;  for  the  men  were  tired,  the 
sun  was  hot,  and  it  was  probable  that  they  would  sleep  or 
doze  until  the  air  was  cooler.  Therefore,  as  we  stood,  Kec- 
ler's  back  was  towards  the  secret  entrance,  while  we  faced 
it.  He  was  for  retreating  into  it  step  by  step,  di-awing  us 
along ;  and  we  should  have  reached  it  in  a  few  seconds  if 
Murden  had  not  grown  rebellious,  and  declared  that  be  would 
not  move  —  a  remark  which  caused  the  argument,  in  the 
shape  of  a  revolver,  to  be  once  more  raised  and  pointed  at 
my  friend's  head. 

As  I  said  before,  Murden's  English-like  obstinacy  delayed 


DOINGS  AT   POINT  LOOKOUT  237 

US  for  some  time,  —  that  is,  when  we  count  seconds  as  hours, 
—  and  enabled  a  very  pretty  little  diversion  to  be  made  in 
our  favor,  but  from  a  quarter  that  we  least  expected,  and  b^ 
a  man  whom  we  thought  a  prisoner.  But  to  understand  the 
matter  thoroughly,  we  will  leave  our  party  standing  in  the 
centre  of  the  cave,  in  no  pleasant  position,  while  we  return 
for  a  short  time  to  Point  Lookout,  and  see  what  had  taken 
place  there. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  we  left  the  two  bushrangers, 
Bob  and  Alf,  whom  we  captured  on  Point  Lookout,  in  the 
charge  of  Tom  Spitman.  "Well,  after  we  were  gone,  Tom 
began  to  feel  lonesome  for  the  want  of  amusement.  He 
forgot,  in  a  measure,  his  promise  and  instructions ;  and  as 
he  sat  looking  at  the  two  bushrangers,  he  imagined  what  a 
chance  it  was  for  roasting  them ;  and  then  he  laughed  as  he 
thought  how  they  would  squirm  when  the  flames  reached 
their  bodies.  In  fact  he  approached  Bob,  and  felt  of  his 
ribs  and  stomach,  which  caused  the  robber  to  ask,  — 

'*  What  in  thunder  do  you  want  to  do  that  for  ?  " 

"  Never  you  mind  what  I'm  doin'  it  for,"  was  the  reply. 
"  You  jist  keep  still,  and  don't  make  a  noise." 

"  Do  you  want  to  see  how  fat  I  am  ?  "  asked  Bob. 

"  Well,  such  is  my  intentions  ; "  and  Tom  once  more  poked 
his  victim's  ribs,  and  then  tui-ned  his  attention  to  Alf,  which 
caused  that  grim  old  bushranger  to  utter  the  most  fearful 
oaths  and  imprecations  upon  the  head  of  his  guardian. 

"  Keep  still,"  said  Tom,  who  found  that  owing  to  the  rest- 
lessness of  the  man  he  could  not  detect  the  condition  of  his 
ribs.  "  K  you  don't  keep  still,"  Tom  continued,  in  a  tone 
that  indicated  a  resolution  to  do  him  some  damage,  "  the 
worse  for  you." 

But  the  grisly  old  bushranger  had  no  notion  'of  keeping 
still;  and  as  Tom  continued  to  feel  of  his  ribs,  and  punch 
him  in  various  parts  of  his  body,  Alf  lost  all  patience. 
He  managed  to  draw  up  his  feet,  manacled  though  they 
were,  and  firmly  planted  them  in  Tom's  breast;  and  the 
effect  was  to  send  the  iellow  rolling  over  and  over  fer  some 
distance 


238  THE  BUSHKA.NGERS. 

"  Blast  you,"  Tom  muttered ;  "  I'll  make  you  sweat  for 
this,  you  see  if  I  don't." 

"  Let  me  help  you,"  cried  Bob,  who  pretended  to  have 
espoused  Tom's  cause,  and  knew  too  much  to  laugh  when 
Tom  was  knocked  over  by  Alf's  huge  feet. 

*'  Ah,  how's  that  ? "  asked  Tom,  a  new  idea  seeming  to 
strike  him. 

"Why,  you  just  let*  me  out  of  these  'ere  darbies,  and 
then  we  can  have  some  fun  with  the  old  feller,"  Bob  said,  in 
an  insinuating  tone. 

A\£  uttered  a  horrid  oath,  and  growled  at  his  comrade  for 
deserting  him. 

*'  But  you'll  run  away,"  said  Tom,  who  appeared  to  think 
favorably  of  the  scheme. 

*'  No,  I  won't.     On  my  honor,  you  know." 

"  I  was  told  by  that  bloody  young  swell,"  Tom  said,  after 
a  moment's  thought,  " not  to  hurt  you;  so  I  won't;  'cos  if  I 
did,  he'd  come  down  on  me  like  bricks.  He's  the  devil 
when  he's  riled.  I  heard  the  commissioner  say  so.  He'd 
shoot  me  like  a  mice  if  I  burned  you." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  burning  a  cove?"  asked  Bob, 
who  had  wit  enough  to  see  that  he  was  making  an  impres- 
sion. 

"  I'll  show  you  in  a  minute.  Jist  roU  yourself  out  of  the 
,way,  so  that  I  can  come  at  this  feller,"  meaning  the  grisly 
old  bushranger.  Bob  complied  with  the  request,  and  Tom 
commenced  gathering  leaves,  dried  branches,  and  grass. 
With  these  he  surrounded  Alf,  —  the  bushrangers  watching 
proceedings  in  a  state  of  profound  astonishment. 

"Blast  you,  and  your  arrangements,  too !"  she uted  the 
old  bushranger ;  and  he  rolled  himself  outside  of  the  circle 
which  Tom^ad  built  around  him. 

"  It's  the  worse  for  you,  old  cock,"  cried  Tom ;  and  he 
commenced  rebuilding  the  magic  circle ;  but  no  sooner  was 
it  completed,  than  Alf,  in  Mie  most  ungrateful  manner,  rolled 
out  of  it,  and  swore  horrid  oaths  at  the  man  who  had  so 
patiently  constructed  the  whole  thing. 

By  this  time  Tom  began  to  grow  angry. 


DOINGS   AT  POINT  LOOKOUT.  ^  239 

"  Hang  you !  "  he  said,  "  you  do  that  again,  and  I'll  roast 
you  like  a  goose ;  you  see  if  I  don't.  I  only  intended  to 
scorch  you ;  but  if  you  spile  my  work  once  more,  I  won't 
leave  a  pin-feather  on  yer." 

"  Come  here  a  minute,  sir,"  said  Bob,  "  and  I'll  tell  you 
how  to  manage  him." 

Tom  went  to  him,  when  Bob  whispered,  "  Just  take  me 

out  of  these  irons,  and  I'll  hold  him  until  the  fire  is  undei 

way  ;  and  then  what  fun  it  will  be  to  see  him  roll  through ! " 

Tom  thought  of  the  matter,  and  then  asked,  "  Won't  you 

attempt  to  cut  and  run  ?  " 

"  No,  indeed ;  and  if  I  should,  haven't  you  got  pistols  ? 
Couldn't  you  shoot  me  ?  " 

The  temptation  was  too  strong.  Tom  unlocked  the  irons, 
and  took  them  off. 

**  Now  you  hold  the  old  cove,  while  I  get  the  things  ready 
for  a  fire." 

"  No ;  you  do  that,"  replied  Bob,  who  dreaded  the  male- 
dictions of  the  old  bushranger. 

Tom  complied,  and  in  a  few  minutes  Bob  had  built  up  a 
circle  of  stuff,  and  then  set  fire  to  it. 

"  Hurrah ! "  yelled  Tom,  leaving  the  body  of  the  bush 
ranger,   and  dancing   outside   of  the   circle   for  very  joy. 
"This  is  jolly,"  he  continued,  as  the  old  robber  began  to 
squirm  under  the  influence  of  the  fire. 

"So  it  is,  but  I'll  make  it  more  joUy,"  said  Bob ;  and 
with  the  words  he  gave  Tom  a  vigorous  push  —  one  that 
sent  him  on  top  of  the  bushranger,  where  Alf  held  him  with 
his  teeth  until  both  were  pretty  well  scorched,  Tom's  hair 
being  aU  gone,  and  Alf 's  beard  entirely  destroyed. 

Wh3n  the  fire  went  out  they  separated,  and  then  it  ww 
discovered  that  the  honest  Bob  had  taken  advantage  of  iht 
eonfosion,  and  left  the  scene. 


240  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

/LN     rNEXPECTED     VISITOH,    BUT     A     PLEASANT     ONE. THJI 

TKEASUKE. A    GREAT    SURPRISE. 

Tom  was  aware  that  it  was  useless  to  follow  the  fellow,  for 
he  knew  all  the  mountain  paths,  and  could  easily  elude  all 
pursuit ;  so  he  sat  down,  and  looked  at  the  bushranger,  who 
was  still  lying  on  his  back,  smoky,  grim,  and  sullen,  and 
wondered  how  he  should  lie  himself  out  of  the  scrape,  and 
so  escape  severe  punishment.  And  Alf  looked  at  Tom, 
and  thought  how  his  old  teeth  did  bite,  but  could  not  imagine 
where  the  fun  was  in  being  burned  and  smothered  like  a  rat. 
In  the  mean  time.  Bob  was  bounding  from  rock  to  rock,  leap- 
ing across  chasms  and  over  dead  logs,  leading  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  cave,  but  knowing  that  he  could  not  reach  that 
place  before  the  police  force,  as  the  latter  had  had  two  hours 
the  start.  But  some  inward  feeling  urged  him  to  take  that 
course,  although  he  knew  that  it  was  dangerous  to  do  so. 

When  Bob  was  within  half  a  mile  of  the  cave,  he  stopped 
and  rested,  and  thought  of  the  matter.  It  was  not  safe  for 
him  to  approach  the  cave  without  reconnoitring,  so  that  he 
should  not  be  surprised  and  recaptured.  He  had  no  doubt 
that  the  traps  would  either  capture  his  comrades  or  drive 
them  off,  and  perhaps  kill  one  half  of  them.  If  Keeler  was 
out  of  the  way,  he  no  longer  had  a  motive  for  remaining  in 
the  band.  He  would  make  some  efforts  to  reform,  and 
escape  from  the  country  as  soon  as  possible. 

Bob  started  for  the  cave  ;  but  he  worked  his  way  through 
the  brush  and  trees  in  such  a  manner  that  he  escaped  the 
observation  of  the  pickets  which  Murden  had  thrown  out, 
and  soon  found  himself  in  the  secret  passage-way.  He 
crawled  along  on  his  hands  and  knees  until  he  arrived  at  the 
cave,  and  then  stopped  and  listened  in  astonishment,  for 
he  heard  the  low,  threatening  tones  of  Keeler,  and  after  a 
few  words  had  passed,  knew  that  the  robber  chief  had  man- 


AN  UNEXPECTED  VISITOE.  241 

<ged  to  get  hold  of  his  treasure  and  capture  two  prisoners 
at  the  same  time. 

"  Keeler  will  kill  that  young  swell,"  Bob  muttered,  "  and 
he  has  saved  me  many  times.  I  will  lend  the  young  cove  a 
helping  hand." 

As  Bob  muttered  the  last  words  he  sprang  from  the  mouth 
of  the  passage-way,  just  as  Keeler  had  pointed  his  revolver 
%t  Murden's  head,  and,  with  an  angry  scowl,  intimated  that 
wm  must  accompany  him  or  die  a  sudden  death. 

"  Hullo !  cap'n,  don't  be  violent,"  cried  Bob,  whose  ap- 
p^/arance  had  caused  me  the  most  intense  surprise. 

/^s  the  lively  young  bushranger  spoke  in  a  careless  tone, 
it  was  so  sudden  and  entirely  unexpected  that  Keeler  lowered 
his  arm  and  turned  half  round.  I  had  expected  such  a  result 
the  moment  Bob  spoke,  and  was  prepared  for  it ;  for  while 
Murden  was  gathering  his  wits,  and  wondering  what  the 
devil  it  all  meant,  I  had  bounded  forward,  thrown  my  arms 
around  the  robber  captain,  and,  with  a  twist  of  my  right  foot, 
mocked  his  feet  out  from  under  him,  and  down  he  went  with 
t  crash ;  and  as  he  struck  the  earth  his  revolver  went  off,  the 
ball  just  grazing  my  arm,  but  doing  no  damage.  The  next 
instant  I  had  wrenched  the  pistol  from  his  grasp,  even  while 
he  was  attempting  to  cock  it,  so  that  he  could  take  a  second 
shot ;  and  with  the  butt  of  the  weapon  I  struck  the  prostrate 
man  a  violent  blow  upon  his  temple,  and  so  well  delivered 
was  it,  that  the  bushranger  did  not  make  any  more  resistance, 
but  just  dropped  his  head  and  uttered  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Gently,  young  swell,"  cried  Bob,  who  had  not  moved  to 
assist  his  captain.  "  Don't  be  violent,  sir,  if  you  please. 
He  is  human,  sir,  although  I  should  judge  you  thought  him 
made  of  iron.     He  can't  stand  sich  blows,  and  live." 

Before  another  word  of  remonstrance  had  been  uttered, 
tho  police  officers,  awakened  from  their  naps  by  the  report 
of  the  pistol,  came  rushing  into  the  cave  pellmell,  sabres  in 
hand,  and  revolvers  ready  to  do  instant  execution. 

"  What's  the  row  ? "  asked  Lieutenant  Maurice,  who  was 
at  the  head  of  the  men. 

*'  O,  nothing   remarkable."  answered  Murden,  who   had 


242  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

fully  recovered  his  presence  of  mind,  and  thrown  the  tw« 
cans  of  treasure  behind  some  clothes  which  were  lying  on 
the  floor,  so  that  his  officers  should  not  see  what  we  had 
been  searching  for.  "  These  two  men  thought  they  would 
surprise  us ;  but  we  rather  got  the  best  of  it,  and  astonished 
them." 

The  policemen  did  not  know  what  to  do  or  say ;  so  thej 
stared  at  Keeler  and  at  Bob. 

'*  I'm  blessed  if  this  isn't  the  feller  what  we  left  in  charge 
of  Tom,"  Maurice  remarked,  giving  Bob  a  whirl  round, 
which  the  bushranger  took  in  good  part,  and  grinned  an 
acknowledgment  of  the  charge. 

Murden  started,  and  would  have  rushed  forward  for  an 
investigation  ;  but  I  stopped  him  by  a  sign. 

'*  Put  the  irons  on  these  men,"  I  said,  "  We  must  secure 
them  and  keep  them." 

"Egad!  I  think  we  will,"  Murden  exclaimed,  in  a  tri- 
umphant tone.     "  Put  on  double  irons." 

Bob  looked  at  me  as  though  wondering  if  I  would  consent 
to  that,  but  I  pretended  not  to  notice  him ;  and  while  the 
officers  were  securing  him  I  walked  out  of  the  cave,  so  that 
I  could  compose  my  thoughts,  and  manage  some  plan  for 
Bob's  relief.  I  passed  on  to  the  fire,  lighted  my  pipe,  and 
sat  down  under  the  shade  of  a  balsam  tree.  While  I  sat 
smoking,  the  men  brought  out  Keeler  and  Bob.  The  former 
had  recovered  consciousness,  but  did  not  look  in  the  least 
humbled.  His  eyes  were  as  bright,  and  his  face  as  threaten- 
ing, as  they  appeared  in  the  cave  but  a  few  minutes  before. 
A  small  stream  of  blood  was  trickling  down  his  temple  from 
the  effect  of  the  blow  which  I  had  given  him;  but  it  only 
added  to  the  robber's  determined  look  and  fierce  appearance. 
The  police  officers  surrounded  the  bushranger,  and  examined 
the  features  of  a  man  whom  they  had  heard  of  so  often,  and 
who  had  always  managed  to  elude  their  closest  pursuit. 

*'  Look  a-here,"  Maurice  said,  addressing  the  lively  young 
bushranger;  "  how  did  you  manage  to  slip  the  darbies  off 
your  feet  and  hands,  and  escape  from  Tom's  custody  ? " 

*'  Why,  he  wanted  me  to  assist  him,"  was  the  reply. 


A2f   UNEXPECTED  VISITOR.  243 

*'  In  doing  what  ? " 

**  0,  in  getting  up  a  little  bit  of  fireworks  on  his  ace  f  ant." 

The  officers  all  laughed.  They  knew  Tom's  predilection 
for  fire. 

'*  Tell  us  all  about  it,"  Maurice  said. 

Bob  told  the  story  in  his  own  peculiar  manner,  which 
elicited  shouts  of  laughter  from  those  who  listened  to  him ; 
and  when  he  concluded  with  a  humorous  description  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  sent  Tom  heels  over  head  into  the 
circle  of  fire,  right  on  top  of  Alf,  even  Murden  and  Sir 
WiUiam  were  compelled  to  join  in  the  laugh,  and  to  acknowl- 
edge that  Bob  was  smart,  and  had  obtained  a  decided  ad- 
vantage over  the  fire-loving  servant. 

"  But  I'll  thrash  him  within  an  inch  of  his  life  when  I  next 
see  him,"  Murden  said.     "  He  has  disobeyed  orders." 

"  I  rather  think  he's  smarting  enough.  He'll  look  like  a 
singed  cat.  I  don't  suppose  that  he'll  forgive  me,  but  I  can 
bear  it  if  he  don't." 

"  That  man  was  never  intended  for  a  robber,"  remarked 
Sir  William,  as  we  turned  away  from  the  scene.  *'  He  is  too 
jolly  for  a  bushranger,  I  believe  that  he  is  the  most  decent 
of  the  gang." 

"  I  know  that  such  is  the  case.  To  him  I  owe  my  life  ; 
und  I'm  not  one  to  forget  a  debt  of  gratitude." 

"  Then  why  not  obtain  a  pardon  for  the  fellow  ? " 

**  The  task  is  no  light  one." 

*'  I  know  it.  But,  to  tell  the  truth,  the  rascal  did  befriend 
me  when  I  was  captured  on  my  way  to  Ballarat,  and  through 
his  aid  I  was  enabled  to  save  some  papers  of  value ;  and,  as 
you  are  grateful,  why,  so  I'll  prove.  I'll  join  you  in  obtain- 
ing his  pardon,  or,  at  least,  a  probation  order." 

*'  Agreed ;  and,  if  we  succeed,  let  us  hope  that  our  ef- 
forts will  not  be  lost  on  the  fellow.  It's  his  last  chance 
for  life." 

"  And  he  should  understand  that  it  is,"  remarked  the  baro- 
net, in  an  impressive  manner. 

We  then  separated  —  I  to  consult  Murden  as  to  the  next 
move,  and  Sir  William  to  stretch  himself  under  the  shade  of 

17 


244  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

a  tree.  I  put  my  arm  through  Murden's,  aLd  led  him  a  short 
distance  from  the  men. 

"  How  shall  we  manage  to  carry  off  Keeler's  hoard  ? "  I 
asked. 

"I  have  been  thinking  the  whole  subject  over,"  the  com- 
missioner replied,  "  and  have  concluded  that  the  best  courso 
we  can  adopt  is  to  call  Hopeful  into  our  councils,  and  see 
what  advice  he  can  offer.     He  is  good  at  suggestions," 

"  So  he  is.  Let  us  enter  the  cave,  and  lay  the  whole  mat- 
ter before  him." 

We  went  in,  called  Hez,  told  him  what  we  had  found,  and 
showed  him  the  cans.  At  first  he  would  not  believe  us  ;  biit 
after  we  had  ,onvinced  him  that  the  cans  were  really  filled 
with  dust  aad  gold  coin,  his  joy  was  extravagant  and  most 
heartfelt. 

*'  Why,  there's  thousands  of  dollars  in  them  'ere  !  "  Hez 
cried,  his  eyes  opened  to  their  widest  extent. 

"  We  are  aware  of  it.  We  want  the  money  for  our  own 
use ;  and,  to  enable  us  to  keep  it,  you  must  help  us." 

"  Am  I  to  share  in  all  that  ? "  asked  Hez,  with  trembling 
eagerness. 

"  Yes ;  provided  you  do  your  part  of  the  work  in  secur- 
ing it." 

"  I  have  it,"  said  Hez,  in  an  eager  tone.  **  We  will  wrap 
our  blankets  around  it,  and  strap  it  on  behind  our  saddles." 

"  It's  our  only  chance,"  replied  Murden.  "  If  we  leave  it 
behind  us,  we  shall  never  set  eyes  on  it  again.  We  must 
carry  it  off  with  us." 

"  Yes,  even  if  I  have  to  swaller  it,  and  then  heave  it  up," 
cried  Hez. 

"  Go  and  get  your  prisoners  on  horseback,"  I  said  to 
Mui-den,  "  and  leave  Hez  and  me  to  look  after  the  cans.  We 
will  manage,  in  some  manner,  to  blind  the  eyes  of  your 
men." 

The  commissioner  left  the  cave  to  give  the  necessary 
orders  ;  to  secure  the  prisoners,  each  one  was  strapped  to  the 
back  of  a  burly  police  officer.  Of  course  this  caused  some 
trouble,   and   took   some   time ;   and   while    attention   was 


A  GREAT  SURPRISE.  24d 

liirected  towards  Keeler  and  Bob,  Hez  and  I  slipped  down 
the  mountain  with  the  valuables  under  our  arms,  secured 
them  to  our  saddle-bows,  and  then  gave  the  signal  to  Mur 
den  tnat  we  were  ready.  He  took  the  hint,  and  shouted 
out, — 

**  Why  won't  you  escort  Sir  William  across  the  valley, 
and  tell  Smith  that  we  shall  want  some  supper  and  break- 
fast.    It  will  save  time,  and  help  us." 

We  started  on  our  journey,  followed  by  Kover,  ivho  Lad 
just  returned  from  a  hunt  without  leave  on  my  part,  and 
therefore  felt  a  little  ashamed  of  himself;  for  had  he  been 
in  the  cave  when  Keeler  appeared,  the  career  of  that  adven- 
turous robber  would  suddenly  have  terminated,  for  the  dog 
would  have  thought  no  more  of  taking  him  by  the  throat, 
than  he  would  of  taking  a  kangaroo.  He  might  have  lost 
his  life  by  so  doing,  but  the  bushranger  would  not  have  lived 
to  tell  the  story. 

"  A  fine  dog  that,"  remarked  Sir  William,  as  we  crossed 
the  brook,  first  allowing  our  horses  to  drink. 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  esteem  and  value  him,"  I  replied. 

Just  at  this  instant  Rover  sprang  towards  a  clump  of  talJ 
grass,  or  hummock,  near  the  edge  of  the  Black  Forest,  and 
as  he  bounded  along,  he  uttered  a  deep  bay.  I  knew  his 
calls  too  well  to  class  it  among  his  expressions  of  rage. 

"Holloa!"  cried  the  baronet,  "your  dog  has  started 
something.     A  kangaroo,  perhaps.     Let  us  give  chase." 

"  Hover  does  not  bay  like  that  when  he  meets  a  wild 
animal,"  I  answered,  confidently. 

"  Well,  let's  see  what  it  is,  at  any  rate ; "  and  the  baronet 
touched  his  horse  and  galloped  towards  the  spot. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  hummock.  Rover  wagged  his  tail, 
and  looked  as  much  as  to  say,  "  Well,  this  is  a  pretty  go. 
I  don't  understand  it." 

I  jumped  from  my  horse,  pulled  the  grass  one  side,  and 
then  found,  to  my  intense  astonishment,  that  I  was  face  to 
face  with  Jenny  Sykes,  the  handsome  blue-eyed  daughter  of 
the  Manchester  Pet,  the  ex-prize-fighter. 


14  6  'J^HE  BUSHRANGERS 


CHAPTER   XXXVn. 

MISS    JENNY    AND    HEK    POSITION. AS    HANDSOME    AND 

VULGAR   AS    EVER. 

As  I  pulled  aside  the  bushes,  Jenny  looked  up  startled 
and  frightened ;  but  when  she  caught  sight  of  my  face,  I 
think  that  she  was  as  much  astonishad  as  myself,  for  I  started 
back,  and  exclaimed,  "Good  heavens !  Jenny,  how  came 
you  here  ? "  and  before  she  could  answer,  or  even  rise  from 
the  sitting  position  which  she  had  assumed  for  the  purpose 
of  concealment.  Rover  walked  up  to  her,  gave  a  snuff,  and 
then  with  his  huge  red  tongue  licked  her  face,  as  though  he 
really  liked  it. 

"  I  can  answer  none  of  your  questions,"  was  the  haughty 
reply. 

"  Jenny,"  I  cried,  in  more  humble  tones  than  I  thought  it 
possible  for  me  to  use  towards  a  bar-maid,  even  if  she  were 
as  handsome  and  virtuous  as  an  angel,  "  why  can't  we  be 
friends,  and  trusting  ones  at  that  ?  I  do  not  deserve  this 
coldness  and  reproach,  and  you  know  it." 

"You  know  that's  a  lie.  You  can't  come  the  blarney 
over  me,  Mr.  Spy,"  the  plain-spoken  girl  replied ;  and  1 
sighed  when  I  heard  such  words  issuing  from  a  mouth  that 
looked  sweeter  than  the  one  that  kissed  Paris  and  Troy  to 
destruction,  for  I  don't  believe  that  fair  Helen  could  have 
shown  such  white,  even  teeth  and  red  lips  as  the  bar-maid 
of  Melbourne. 

I  heard  a  sigh,  a  deep,  painful  one,  at  m.y  side,  and  1 
turned  to  see  who  uttered  it.  Sir  William  was  standing 
near,  regarding  the  haughty  face  of  the  girl  with  so  much 
attention  that  I  felt  a  little  jealous  of  his  glances ;  but  I  soon 
saw  that  it  was  not  admiration  for  her  beauty  that  caused 
that  look  of  interest,  for  the  baronet  turned  away  after  a 
moment's  silence  and  stern  gaze,  with  the  remark,  — 

"  Such  a  jewel,  and  such  a  setting  !  "  and  just  as  he  spoke 


MISS  JENNY  AND  HER  POSITION.  247 

Miss  Jenny,  who  had  not  relished  Sir  William's  aident  gaze, 
said,  with  an  impudent  toss  of  her  pretty  head,  — 

'*  Don't  eat  me  up  with  your  eyes  —  or  didn't  you  ever  sofl 
a  woman  like  me  afore  ? " 

*'  Hush,  Jenny,"  I  said.  *'  The  gentleman  meant  no  of- 
fence." 

*'  Well,  don't  let  him  stare  at  me  in  that  way.  I  ain't 
one  of  that  sort." 

*^  T(dl  me,  Jenny,"  I  said,  as  Sir  William  turned  away, 
*'  what  brought  you  into  this  part  of  the  country  ? " 

**  My  legs,"  was  the  answer. 

"You  know  what  I  mean.  Miss  Jenny,"  I  continued. 
"  How  happens  it  that  I  meet  you  in  this  lonely  spot  ? " 

"  The  meeting  ain't  none  of  my  seekin'.  It  ain't  likely 
that  I  would  run  towards  the  cove  what  jugged  my  dad." 

"  You  grow  worse  and  worse,"  I  exclaimed,  in  a  pettish 
manner.  "  Do  for  Heaven's  sake  leave  off  uttering  such 
slang." 

"  Why  should  I  ?  'Tain't  to  please  you  that  I  is  here.  I 
comes  here  for  — " 

She  stopped  short,  and  tossed  her  handsome  head  like  a 
well-bred  racer  when  in  the  company  of  a  cart-horse.  She 
was  determined  to  treat  me  with  contempt  at  all  hazards, 
and  I  was  equally  determined  that  she  should  not  disgust  me 
or  anger  me  in  the  least. 

"  You  saw  us  coming,  and  so  concealed  yourself,"  I  said. 
**  Do  you  know  the  danger  of  this  valley  ?  " 

-  Yes." 

*'  That  H  is  surrounded  by  bad  men,  who  would  not  carfc 
the  least  for  your  beauty  or  your  haughty  ways,  but  would — " 

*'  Stop  !  "  she  said.  "  K  a  man  talked  slang  to  me,  Fd 
spit  in  his  nasty  face." 

"  He'd  care  but  little  for  that.  On  every  side  of  you  there 
are  bushrangers,  desperate  men,  who  would  treat  you  in  a  vile 
manner,  and  laugh  at  your  tears.  Come,  Jenny ;  confide  in 
me,  and,  believe  me,  I  shall  prove  a  kind  protector." 

She  curled  her  lip  in  scorn  at  the  offer. 

*' 1  ain't  afeard  of  men,"  she  said.     *' If  they  come  near 


248  THE  BUSHKANGERS. 

me  they'll  catch  it.     I'd  scratch  their  eyes  out  in  lo  time 
No,  sir;  you  look  arter  yerself,  and  let  me  aloni'." 

"  I  t^hall  not  leave  you  here  alone,"  I  remarked,  in  a  firm 
tone.  "  You  would  be  stung  to  death  with  snakes  before 
morning.  See ;  there  is  one  gliding  through  the  grass  and 
heading  this  way." 

I  had  touched  her  on  a  tender  point.  All  women  have  a 
horror  of  snakes,  and  I  don't  blame  them  for  entertaining 
such  a  feeling ;  for  to  encounter  a  reptile  in  the  woods,  or  in 
a  Talley,  is  far  from  being  agreeable  to  most  people.  Jenny 
was  no  exception  to  the  general  rule  ;  so,  when  she  turned 
and  saw  a  black  snake  with  a  white  ring  around  its  neck, 
with  head  erect,  gliding  towards  us,  the  handsome  bar-maid 
changed  color,  trembled  for  a  moment,  as  though  uncertain 
what  to  do,  and  then  sprang  towards  me,  and  threw  herself 
into  my  arms. 

"  Kill  that  blasted  thing,"  whispered  the  terrified  maid. 
**  I  don't  want  it  round  me." 

I  heard  a  suppressed  laugh,  and  I  knew  that  Sir  William 
and  Hez  were  enjoying  themselves  at  my  expense. 

"  The  lioness  is  conquered  by  a  python,"  Sir  William  said. 

"  Then  I'll  be  darned  ef  it  ain't  the  fust  time  she  ever 
took  pity  on  'im,"  cried  Hez,  who  misunderstood  the  mean- 
ing of  the  word  python. 

I  encircled  the  graceful  waist  of  the  girl  with  my  left  arm, 
and  drew  my  revolver  with  my  right  hand.  The  snake  con- 
tinued to  advance,  not  in  the  least  intimidated  by  the  firm 
stand  which  I  had  assumed.  As  it  nearcd  us  I  saw  at  once 
that  it  was  not  a  poisonous  reptile  —  that  its  bite  was  not 
dangerous,  although  painful,  owing  to  the  length  of  its  fangs. 

*'  Don't  tremble  so,  Jenny,"  I  whispered,  placing  my  lips 
as  near  her  cheeks  as  I  dared.  "  I  will  protect  you  from  aD 
harm.     The  snake  shall  destroy  me  before  it  touches  you." 

Now  there  was  not  the  slightest  danger  of  my  being  de- 
stroyed, or  of  Jenny's  being  harmed,  unless  she  provoked 
the  reptile  to  hostilities  ;  so  when  I  told  her  that  I  would  dio 
for  her,  she  just  clung  a  little  closer,  and  then  I  took  a  delib- 
erate aim  and  fired  ;  and  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  put  a  ball 


JENNY  AS  HANDSOME  AND  VULGAR  AS  EVER.    249 

through  the  neck  of  the  snake,  which  caused  it  to  tie  itself 
UD  into  hard  knots,  to  lash  the  grass  with  its  powerful  tail, 
and  then  to  stretch  out  and  die. 

•'  The  danger  is  over,  dear  Jenny,"  I  whispered.  "  The 
snake  is  dead." 

*'  Well,  I'm  bloody  glad  of  it ; "  and  with  these  coarse, 
vulgar  words  upon  her  lips,  the  girl  twisted  her  form  from 
my  arms,  and  once  more  her  lovely  face  assumed  a,  cold, 
disdainful  look,  as  though  she  hated  herself  for  the  momen- 
tary weakness  which  had  got  the  better  of  her  naturo. 

"  You  see,  Jenny,  what  you  would  be  exposed  to,  if  you 
remained  in  the  valley  over  night,"  I  remarked. 

"  I  see,"  was  the  cold  rejoinder. 

"  And  you  will  go  with  us  to  some  place  of  safety  ? "  I 
continued. 

She  hesitated,  and  looked  up  and  down  the  valley  with  a 
perplexed  air. 

"  Let  me  speak  with  her,"  cried  Sir  William,  coming  for- 
ward. "  Perhaps  the  girl  will  listen  to  the  words  which  a 
gray-haired  man  utters." 

There  was  something  in  the  voice  and  manner  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam that  caused  Jenny  to  look  up  with  a  face  that  was 
frownless  ;  and  as  my  eyes  wandered  from  her  countenance 
to  that  of  the  baronet's,  it  suddenly  flashed  across  my  mind, 
that  the  mystery  was  at  last  solved.  I  had  puzzled  my  brain 
for  some  hours  to  determine  where  I  had  seen  face  and  eyes 
that  resembled  Sir  William's.  The  question  was  answered 
at  last,  and  as  the  girl  and  baronet  stood  opposite  to  each 
other,  the  likeness  appeared  to  be  marvellous  —  one  of  those 
accidental  coincidences  which  cannot  always  be  accounted  for. 

For  a  few  seconds  the  parties  looked  at  each  other, 
Jenny  apparently  as  much  surprised  at  Sir  William's  fac3s  as 
he  was  at  hers ;  but  at  length  the  baronet  recovered  his  self- 
possession,  and  said, — 

"  Young  lady,  you  had  better  take  advice,  and  such  advice 
as  my  friend  here  offers.  You  can't  go  forward,  and  you  can'i 
remain  here,  without  danger.  This  is  no  place  for  one  like 
you  ;  so  gr  with  us,  and  we  will  see  that  you  are  taken  care  of-*' 


250  THK  BUSHRANGERS 

"  Mifes  Jenny,"  I  said,  "  I  know  your  errand,  f^nd  can  teli 
you  that  it  is  a  useless  one.  The  bushrangers,  whom  yon 
were  sent  to  communicate  with,  are  dispersed,  and  tho2e  who 
did  not  escape  were  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  They 
will  not  venture  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cave  for  some  days,  so 
you  can  underotand  how  necessary  it  is  that  you  should  go 
with  us." 

"  I  didn't  want  to  see  no  bushrangers,"  pouted  Jennj, 
with  her  finger  in  her  mouth,  and  a  frown  on  her  brow. 

"  You  know  that  your  father  sent  you  here,"  I  continued, 
making  a  bold  guess. 

She  did  not  answer,  but  continued  to  suck  her  finger,  and 
to  frown  at  me.  I  knew  I  was  on  the  right  track,  so  I  con- 
tinued :  *'  Keeler  is  a  prisoner,  and  in  the  hands  of  the  po- 
lice ;  and  Mother  Brown,  the  only  one  who  would  be  likely 
to  protect  your  sex,  is  gone." 

"  And  where  has  she  gone  to  ?  "  asked  Jenny,  with  a 
start,  and  at  the  same  time  removing  her  finger  from  her 
mouth,  and  staring  at  me  with  her  clear  blue  eyes. 

"  Across  the  valley  ;  "  and  I  pointed  in  the  direction  of 
Smith's  house. 

She  turned  and  looked  in  the  direction  I  indicated,  and  I 
saw  that  her  resolution  was  shaken.  She  did  not  know  what 
to  do,  or  which  way  to  turn.  For  a  few  moments  I  enjoyed 
her  perplexity,  for  I  knew  that  she  must  ultimately  confide 
in  me,  or  endure  terrible  hardships  ;  and  I  am  sure  I  wished 
to  save  her  from  the  latter.  I  was  too  sincere  in  my  friend- 
ship to  wish  that  she  might  suffer  on  account  of  a  little  wil- 
fulness. After  a  long  pause,  during  which  Jenny  had  stared 
at  the  ground  as  though  it  would  solve  some  of  her  diffi- 
culties, she  raised  her  head,  and  asked,  — 

"  If  I  go  with  you,  can  I  see  Mother  Brown  ? " 

"  I  am  not  certain  on  that  point,  but  I  think  you  will  bo 
enabled  to.     I  will  do  all  I  can  to  bring  you  together." 

"  Then  I  will  go  with  you  ;  but  I  won't  stand  any  gammon, 
mind  you." 

''  If  you  is  goin'  to  take  ;he  gal  along,  you  had  b(  tter  do 
it,"  said  Hez  ;  "  'cos  the  purlice  will  overtake  us,  and  then  aU 


JENNY  AS   HANDSOME   AND   VULGAR  AS   EVEIl.         251 

haudg  will  have  questions  to^x,  and  all  will  want  to  sec  he; 
ride.     I'd  hurry  if  I  was  you,  and  cared  for  the  gal." 

For  the  first  time  I  began  to  wonder  how  I  was  to  trans- 
port Jenny  across  the  valley.  She  could  not  walk,  for  hei 
shoes  were  nearly  gone,  and  her  feet  were  bleeding  wher(, 
she  had  torn  them  in  the  brush,  and  with  the  rank  grasses 
which  grew  near  the  small  streams  that  ran  through  the  vallay. 
There  was  no  help  for  it  —  I  must  take  her  on  my  horse. 

"  Will  you  ride  before  or  behind  me  ? "  I  asked. 

She  pouted,  and  made  no  reply.  I  saw  that  a  little  urging 
was  necessary.  I  took  her  hand  and  led  her  to  my  horse, 
and  then  lifted  her  to  the  saddle,  adjusting  her  clothes 
around  her  small  feet  and  delicate  ankles ;  and  before  she 
had  recovered  from  her  surprise,  I  had  sprung  up  behind 
her,  put  my  arms  around  her  waist,  and  started  the  horse  in 
the  direction  of  Smith's  house.  Jenny  only  uttered  one 
word  of  remonstrance  ;  but  I  silenced  her. 

'*  Take  your  arms  from  my  waist,"  she  said. 

'*  And  allow  you  to  fall  ?  I  shan't  do  it ;  "  and  I  tightened 
my  embrace. 

Few  were  the  words  which  we  exchanged  on  the  route, 
for  Jenny  seemed  to  be  meditating  on  the  failure  of  her 
mission,  while  I  was  thinking  what  it  was  about,  and  won- 
dering if  she  would  not  enlighten  me.  Once  I  spoke  to  her 
on  the  subject ;  but  she  rather  cut  me  short,  as  though  to 
intimate  that  it  was  none  of  my  business,  and  that  I  had 
better  hold  my  tongue  ;  and,  like  a  sensible  man,  I  did.  As 
soon  as  we  reached  the  orchard.  Smith  and  his  family,  Mrs., 
Brown  and  the  dogs,  came  out  to  meet  us,  and  gave  us  a 
warm  welcome  ;  but  no  sooner  did  Mrs.  Brown  catch  sight 
of  Sir  William,  than  she  waddled  back  to  the  house  as  fast 
as  her  fat  limbs  could  carry  her  ;  while  Miss  Amelia  ap- 
peared to  be  struck  dumb  at  the  sight  of  Jenny,  whom 
I  assisted  to  alight,  and  introduced  to  Smith  and  his  wife  ; 
and  I  would  have  done  the  same  thing  to  Amelia,  if  she  had 
not  tossed  her  head  and  turned  her  back  upon  u.'?,  as  thoujrb 
disdaining  such  company. 


152  THE    BUSHEANGEKS. 


CHAPTER  XXXVni. 

A.    coquette's    contempt. THE    DISAPPEAEANCE. A.MEL14 

AND    MOLOCH. 

When  I  lifted  Jenny  from  her  seat  on  the  saddle,  and  in- 
troduced her  to  Smith  and  his  wife,  they  extended  their 
hands  and  treated  the  fair  stranger  like  an  equal,  in  spite 
of  her  shabby  appearance  and  the  accumulation  of  dust  and 
dirt  on  her  person.  Miss  Copey,  however,  just  turned  her 
back  and  skipped  towards  the  house.  But  she  first  made  up 
a  face  at  me,  expressive  of  disgust  at  my  conduct,  although 
what  there  was  to  be  disgusted  at  I  could  not  imagine  ;  but 
girls  are  whimsical  at  times,  and  hard  to  understand.  I 
stole  a  look  at  Jenny's  face  as  Amelia  walked  off;  but 
I  did  not  see  manifested  any  of  the  indignation  which  a 
high-bred  girl  would  have  exhibited  at  the  insult.  Her 
large  blue  eyes  followed  Amelia's  form ;  but  there  was  no 
anger  in  those  heavenly  orbs.  I  saw  a  different  kind  of 
emotion,  but  one  that  was  quite  womanly.  It  was  a  feeling 
of  envy,  to  think  that  Amelia  was  so  much  better  clothed 
than  herself  —  was  cleaner  looking  in  every  respect,  and 
had  on  a  pair  of  neat-fitting  shoes,  which  showed  a  small 
foot  and  ankle  to  much  advantage ;  while  the  shoes  which 
Jsnny  wore  were  loose,  broken,  and  entirely  unworthy  of 
the  small  treasures  which  they  covered. 

Jenny  had  not  been  educated  in  the  forms  of  polito  so- 
cdety,  and  therefore  did  not  know  that  she  was  insulted ;  but 
Amelia  had  received  a  fair  English  education,  and  should 
have  known  better  than  to  treat  a  poor  sister  in  the  way  she 
did,  and  I  determined  tc  tell  her  so  the  first  time  I  had  a 
chance,  even  if  she  did  not  relish  my  remarks.  But  I  did 
not  manifest  the  least  emotion  as  I  turned  and  introduced 
Sir  William  to  Mr.  Smith  and  wife ;  and  it  was  amusing  to 
see  Smith's  eyes  when  I  made  the  announcement. 

"  A  baronight  in^my  poor  house  !  "  ejaculated  the  stock- 


A  COQUETTE'S   CONTEMPT.  253 

man.  "  Good  Heavens,  what  an  honor  for  me  and  m^ 
children  !  Kun,  wife,  and  have  the  best  room  in  the  ho'ise 
prepared  for  Sir  William.  Cook  everything  you  can  lay 
your  hands  on." 

'*  Shall  I  prepare  some  mutton  ? "  whispered  the  wife. 

"  Mutton  for  a  baronight ! "  cried  the  excited  stockman. 
*'  Hang  mutton  !  no." 

Mrs.  Smith  saw  that  her  husband  was  in  earnest ;  so  she 
became  as  excited  as  her  lord.  For  the  first  time  in  her 
life  she  saw  a  man  of  rank,  and  when  she  met  Miss  Amelia, 
who  was  mentally  abusing  my  impertinence  in  introducing 
such  an  ill-dressed  woman  to  her  consideration,  she  ex- 
claimed, — 

"0,  Amelia,  only  think  of  it  I  that  strange  gentleman  is  a 
knight,  and  he's  come  on  a  visit !  " 

"  I  don't  care  if  he's  Mr.  Day,"  pouted  the  young  lady. 
"  I  don't  want  to  see  the  tribe.  To  think  that  that  hateful 
monster  should  bring  a  woman  here.  She's  none  too  good, 
I'll  warrant  you.  I  wouldn't  have  her  in  the  house;  I'd 
send  her  a  trooping,  I  tell  you." 

"You  won't  understand  me,  you  little  flirt,"  cried  the 
married  lady.  "  The  strange  gentleman  is  a  Sir  William  —  a 
nobleman  of  much  wealth,  and  he  must  have  something  to 
eat." 

"  Hey  ?  "  cried  Miss  Amelia,  pricking  up  her  pretty  ears. 

*'  A  real  nobleman,  child.     A  baronet." 

"  Good  Lord !  '*  Amelia  said,  with  a  little  shriek,  "  is  it 
possible  ?  Is  he  married  ?  I  had  better  put  on  my  new 
muslin,  hadn't  I  ? " 

"  You'd  better  help  me  with  the  housework,  you  silly 
child,"  the  married  sister  replied;  and  then  Miss  Amelia 
pouted,  and  said  that  was  just  the  way  —  she  never  had  a 
chance  to  show  her  accomplishments  before  people  who 
could  appreciate  them. 

"  0,  you  provoking  girl !"  suddenly  exclaimed  Mrs.  Smith ; 
and  with  the  words  she  pounced  upon  her  sister,  shook 
her  in  a  brief  manner,  and  then  dropped  her  and  ran  to  th« 
kitchen  to  give  directions  to  the  cook. 


254  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"Well,  of  all  things  in  this  world!'*  cried  the  iiidignani 
girl ;  and  then  she  relieved  her  feelings  with  a  flood  of  tears, 
and  they  flowed  the  more  freely  because  she  thought  thai 
?ho  was  an  ill-used  woman. 

But  while  Amelia  was  wishing  that  she  was  married, 
dead,  or  some  other  dreadful  fate,  she  heard  our  party  ap- 
proaching the  house. 

Out  of  the  window  she  went,  just  before  we  entered  the 
room,  then  ran  round  to  the  orchard,  and  threw  herself 
under  the  shadow  of  a  tree,  and  went  to  sleep,  where  we  will 
leave  her  for  the  present. 

Smith  preceded  us  as  we  entered  the  house. 

'*  Welcome,  most  honored  sir,"  he  cried.  '*  Beneath  my 
humble  roof  I  hope  you  will  find  repose  and  shelter.  Never 
was  I  more  honored,  never  —  *' 

He  stepped  back,  hit  his  heels  against  the  stairs,  —  which 
were  built  out  into  the  room,  —  and  over  he  went,  to  the 
intense  delight  of  Hez,  who  roared  and  stamped  with  joy, 
while  Sir  William  sufi'ered  a  smile  to  pass  over  his  face,  but 
it  was  only  a  transient  one.  Our  host  speedily  recovered 
his  feet,  cursed  the  stairs,  and  then  rushed  out  of  the  room 
to  see  how  his  wife  was  progressing  with  the  supper,  while 
Sir  William  sauntered  to  the  window,  looked  out,  and  then 
turned  suddenly,  and  asked,  — 

*'  AVhat  do  you  intend  to  do  with  that  girl  ? "  pointing  to 
Jenny. 

"  Take  care  of  her  until  she  is  returned  to  her  home  in 

Melbourne,"  I  answered. 

« 

"  Humph !  A  young  man  is  not  exactly  a  proper  com- 
panion for  a  girl  like  her." 

"  T^ere  is  where  we  differ.  I  think  that  any  man  who 
will  protect  a  girl's  honor  is  a  companion  that  no  woman 
need  blush  to  have  near  her." 

The  next  instant  in  rushed  Smith,  in  a  state  of  great  ex- 
citement and  perspiration. 

*'  Your  room  is  all  ready.  Sir  William.  Sorry  that  it's  no 
better.  I've  done  the  bef^v  that  I  could.  Plenty  of  water  in 
the  r:)om  to  wash  the  dirt  from  your  face,  Sir  William;  an<? 


A  COQUETTES  CONTEMPT.  255 

if  you  want  to  change  your  clothes,  I've  laid  oat  a  suit  of 
mine  that  you  can  put  on.  Walk  right  up  stairs,  Sir  AVilliam, 
and  turn  to  the  left." 

The  baronet,  like  a  gentleman  as  he  was,  smiled  and 
bowed,  and  expressed  his  thanks  in  a  few  words.  Then  lie 
left  the  room,  and  navigated  up  the  stairs,  which  were  built 
on  entirely  new  principles  ;  and  those  who  ascended  them 
often  found,  unless  warned,  that  no  sooner  had  they  arrived 
at  the  top  than  they  were  transported  to  the  bottom,  to  the 
great  danger  of  neck  and  limbs.  Sir  William,  however,  had 
ample  warning.  He  passed  the  Rubicon  in  safety,  and 
entered  his  room.  As  soon  as  he  had  locked  his  door,  I 
intimated  to  Smith  that  I  wanted  an  apartment  and  clothes 
for  my  protegee. 

'*  Mealy's  about  her  size,"  the  stockman  replied,  with  a 
scrutinizing  glance.  "  Maybe  this  one  is  a  little  higher  than 
t'other.    If  she  has  a  room  it  must  be  the  one  that  you  had." 

"  Let  her  have  it,  then.     I  will  find  a  place  to  sleep." 

'*  Well,  as  for  clothes,  I  don't  know  as  Mealy's  will  fit ; 
and,  if  they  did,  she'd  make  a  rumpus  if  we  took  'em." 

Smith  scratched  his  head,  and  looked  a  little  serious.  He 
knew  the  temper  of  his  amiable  sister-in-law,  and  rathei 
stood  in  awe  of  her  on  account  of  her  education  and  beauty. 
But  I  had  no  such  feeling,  although  I  was  a  little  tender  on 
the  latter  point ;  so  I  said  that  I  would  stand  between  him 
and  Amelia,  and  that  satisfied  the  stockman  that  his  shoulders 
were  safe.  lie  knew  that  Amelia  would  not  dare  to  show 
much  of  her  temper  to  me,  while  she  had  not  the  least  con- 
scientious scruples  against  giving  her  brother-in-law,  who 
supported  her,  a  piece  of  her  mind. 

"  Come,  Jenny,"  I  said,  "  let  me  show  you  to  your  room." 

The  girl  drew  back,  and  a  blush  of  indignation  mantled 
her  brow. 

"  No,  you  don't,"  she  said.  *'  I  ain't  one  of  your  kind,  if 
you  come  to  that." 

I  thought  that  Hez  Would  kill  himself,  he  laughed  so 
heartily. 

"  I'll  send  my  wife  up  with  the  lass,"  Smith  remarked^ 


256  THE  BUSHRANGERS 

eeeog  that  Jenny  was  suspicious  of  us  men.  **  You  won't 
be  afeard  of  her,  will  you  ? "  and  the  stockman  laughed  as 
though  he  had  uttered  a  good  joke. 

"  I  ain't  afeard  of  no  woman,"  the  inhabitant  of  Mud  Lane 
replied ;  and  I  think  she  spoke  the  truth,  for  there  was  a 
calm  confidence  in  her  eves  that  would  have  repelled  mos' 
vicious  men. 

Smith  called  his  wife,  and  that  amiable  lady  soon  led 
Jenny  up  stairs,  gave  her  such  clothing  as  was  needed,  — 
all  from  Amelia's  wardrobe,  which  I  intended  to  restore  in 
so  liberal  a  manner  that  she  would  have  no  cause  to  com- 
plain, —  saw  that  the  young  girl  was  washed  in  a  thorough 
manner,  and  that  her  poor,  wounded  feet  were  attended  to, 
and  then  returned  to  her  company,  and  glanced  around  .she 
room  as  though  expecting  to  see  some  one  ;  and  when  ohe 
found  that  she  was  disappointed,  she  asked  her  husband  if 
he  had  seen  Amelia. 

"  No  ;  I  s'posed  she  was  up  stairs  with  you." 

*'  I  have  not  seen  her  for  at  least  two  hours,"  Mrs,  Smith 
remarked,  in  a  tone  of  alarm. 

It  was  now  dark,  and  we  were  expecting  the  police  squid 
every  moment,  supper  having  been  cooked  and  kept  waiting 
for  them.  The  stockman  looked  a  little  wild  at  hearing  such 
a  report  from  his  wife  ;  but  if  he  seemed  alarmed,  his  better 
half  more  than  shared  it,  for  she  feared  that  some  accident 
had  happened  to  the  girl — Amelia  not  being  in  the  habit  of 
absenting  herself  from  the  house,  especially  just  towards 
evening. 

"  She  can't  have  gone  to  White's,  can  she  ? "  asked  Smith. 

White  was  a  farmer,  their  nearest  neighbor,  and  lived  one 
or  two  miles  farther  down  the  road. 

"  She  wouldn't  have  thought  of  such  a  thing,"  Mrs.  Smith 
replied.     *'  You  know  she  is  very  timid." 

We  looked  through  every  room  in  the  house,  and  in  every 
closf't  and  chest ;  but  Amelia,  the  pert,  fair-faced,  laughing 
Amelia,  was  not  to  be  found  ;  and  so  our  anxiety  quickened 
into  fear  that  she  had  wandered  out  in  the  valley  and  was 
list,  or  that  some  accident  had  happened  to  her.     In  thf 


AMELIA  AND  MOLOCH.  257 

mean  time,  while  the  search  is  going  on,  we  will  return  for 
a  moment  to  the  young  lady  whom  we  left  asleep  under  a 
tree  in  the  orchard  —  a  very  imprudent  act  on  her  part,  and 
one  that  she  would  not  have  committed  if  she  had  not  been 
grieved  and  angry  at  the  sight  of  a  face  that  rivalled  her  own 
in  point  of  beauty.  Well,  perhaps  the  young  lady  slept  ten 
minutes,  and  was  dreaming  that  a  box  containing  half  a 
dozen  dresses,  all  trimmed  with  ribbons  and  point  lace,  had 
just  arrived  from  Melbourne,  and  that  she  was  to  have  five 
of  the  best  and  smartest  dresses,  and  her  sister  the  remain- 
ing one,  when  a  hand  was  laid  on  her  white,  graceful  neck ; 
and  opening  her  eyes,  and  attempting  to  start  up,  she  found 
a  man  leaning  over  her,  and  that  man  was  one  whom  she 
had  no  desire  to  see,  for  it  was  Moloch.  Of  course  the 
young  girl  was  startled  to  wake  up  and  see  that  ruffian's 
repulsive  face  close  to  her  own  ;  and  as  she  struggled  to  rise, 
she  said, — 

"  0,  is  this  you,  Moloch  ?     Have  you  come  back  ? " 

"  Yees,  I'se  come  back ; "  and  the  ruffian  grinned,  but 
never  offered  to  release  his  hold  of  her  throat,  as  though  he 
feared  she  would  utter  a  cry  that  might  attract  attention. 

"  Mr.  Smith  will  be  glad  to  see  you,"  Amelia  remarked, 
although  she  knew  she  was  uttering  a  falsehood. 

"  Yees,"  grinned  the  brute  ;  "  but  I  don't  vant  to  sees  Mr. 
Smith,  and  he  don't  vant  to  sees  me." 

"  0,  but  he  does." 

The  ruffian  chuckled,  and  looked  at  her  flushed  face  with 
an  admiring  glare,  more  like  the  glance  of  a  satyr  than  a 
man.  Amelia  noted  the  look,  and  her  little  heart  trem- 
bled ;  but  she  kept  up  an  outward  show  of  composure,  even 
if  she  did  not  feel  it. 

"  Do  take  your  hand  from  my  throat,  Moloch,"  the  young 
girl  said.     *'  You  hurt  me  with  your  rough  fingers." 

"  Yees  ;  and  if  I  does  take  it  away  you  vill  jist  yell,  and 
that  I  von't  stand." 

"  No,  I  won't  cry  out,"  the  girl  said,  although  she  meant 
to  do  so  the  first  opportunity. 

"  Vot  men  is  in  the  house  ?  "  , 


258  THE  BUSHRAI^GERS. 

"  AVLy,  the  same  ones  who  were  there  when  you  atiempv 
ed  to  —  "  She  nearly  said  "murder,"  but  checked  herself 
in  time,  and  continued,  "  when  you  left  us." 

"  The  traps  ain't  there,  is  they  ? "  demanded  the  fellow. 

"  No  ;  but  they  will  be  here  in  a  short  time.  Supper  is  be- 
ing prepared  for  them,  and  I  must  go  and  help  set  the  tables." 

But  Moloch  had  no  notion  of  losing  such  an  agreeable 
companion.  As  she  started  towards  the  house,  he  put  out 
his  hand  and  seized  her  arm,  and  held  her  fast. 

"  No,  lass,  you  don't  leave  me  in  this  vay." 

"  Eelease  me,  Moloch,"  the  young  lady  cried,  attempting 
to  throw  off  his  hand ;  but  the  man  held  her  fast,  and  did 
not  seem  to  quail  under  her  indignant  looks. 

"  You  be  a  beauty,  lass,"  the  fellow  said,  *'  and  I  likes  you 
Ve  don't  part  just  now ;  it  vould  break  my  gizzard  if  ve  did." 

"  You  mean  wretch,  if  you  don't  leave  me  I'll  scream,  and 
then  Mr.  Jack  will  come  to  my  assistance,  and  beat  you  as 
you  deserve." 

"  No,  you  von't  do  no  sich  thing.  If  you  but  open  them 
purty  lips  of  your'n,  I'll  take  care  to  shut  'em." 

She  tried  to  shake  him  off,  but  could  not ;  and  then  she 
uttered  a  yell ;  but  before  she  could  repeat  the  experiment, 
Moloch's  hard,  dirty  hand  was  placed  over  her  mouth,  and 
the  other  paw  grasped  her  white,  slender  neck. 

"  If  you  does  that  agin,"  whispered  the  desperate  villain, 
**  I  shall  have  to  choke  the  life  out  of  yer.  I  don't  vant  to, 
'cause  I  loves  yer." 

'*  0,  Moloch,  if  you  love  me,  please  let  me  go  to  the  house. 
I'll  never  say  one  word  to  Mr.  Smith  about  this ;  you  see  if 
I  do." 

"  I'll  see  that  you  don't,  my  purty  lass,"  was  the  reply ; 
and  the  fellow  grinned  as  he  spoke,  while  he  still  held  her  in 
his  rude  grasp,  so  that  her  screams  would  be  instantly 
checked  in  case  she  attempted  to  utter  any  ;  and  then,  as  her 
face  showed  the  disgust  with  which  she  regarded  him,  he 
continued":  — 

**  I  loved  you,  lass,  long  afore  you  thought  of  it,  or  afore 
you  Tould  look  on  one  like  me.     I  vanted  you  fn^*  a  vife,  buJ 


HE  ABDUCTION.  259 

1  knew  you  vouldn't  have  me  till  I  vas  rich ;  so  I  used  tc 
think,  day  after  day,  how  I  should  get  money,  and  you  at 
the  same  time ;  and  vile  I  vas  thinkiu',  along  come  this  'ere 
young  feller  with  the  kinky  hair,  and  ven  I  saw  him  I  knowed 
that  you  vould  love  him,  'cos  he's  handsomer  than  me.*' 

"  But  I  don't  love  him,"  cried  Amelia  ;  "  I  hate  him." 

"  I  vish  you  did,"  replied  Moloch,  "  but  I  know  better  than 
that ;  so  ven  I  saw  you  smile  on  him,  I  determined  to  take 
his  life,  and  I  vould  have  done  it,  lass,  if  the  devil  hadn't 
stood  his  friend." 

"  You  attempted  to  murder  him,  and  got  frightened  into  a 
fit  for  your  pains,"  Amelia  remarked,  in  a  tone  that  was  a 
little  malicious. 

"  Veil,  I  thought  it  vas  the  feller's  ghost ;  but  no  live  man 
can  make  Moloch  afeard ; "  and  then  after  a  pause  he  con- 
tinued :  *'  I  had  a  shot  at  the  fellow  the  next  day,  ven  he  vas 
in  the  bush,  but  I  missed  'im.  Dom  him,  I  think  he  be  hard 
to  kiU." 

"  If  you  do  not  release  me,"  Amelia  cried,  growing  im- 
patient, "  you  shall  suffer  for  it." 

The  words  made  Moloch  angry.  He  threw  one  of  his 
brawny  arms  around  the  girl's  waist,  placed  a  hand  over  her 
mouth,  and  then  bore  her  towards  a  horse  which  was  con- 
cealed in  a  clump  of  palm  trees,  the  huge  leaves  of  which 
completely  hid  the  animal.  And  all  this  time  we  ^ad  never 
missed  her. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

THE    ABDTJCTION. A   NATIVE    ON   THE    TKATL. THE 

PUESTJIT. 

In  the  mean  time,  at  the  house,  we  had  searched  every  part 
of  it,  from  cellar  to  attic,  and  found  no  trace  of  Amelia. 
Then  we  looked  through  the  outbuildings,  the  orchard, 
where  fruit  trees  were  growing  which  had  been  brought 
from  England,  —  for,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  Australia  doe» 
i8 


260  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

not  boast  of  fruit  indigenous  to  the  soil,  —  and  at  last  we 
called  lier  name,  but  there  was  no  response. 

"  She  may  have  gone  to  White's,"  Smith  said ;  and  he 
looked  at  us  in  hopes  that  we  should  agree. 

"  Let  your  stockman  ride  over  there  and  inquire,"  I  said. 

Joe  was  instantly  despatched,  on  the  back  of  the  fastest 
horse  that  was  at  hand  at  the  time  ;  but  hardly  had  the  sound 
of  the  animal's  hoofs  died  away,  than  Hez  picked  something 
from  the  ground  near  the  grove  of  palm  trees.  He  ran  with 
it  to  a  light,  and  then  cried  out  that  he  had  found  a  ribbon, 
one  which  Amelia  had  worn  in  her  hair  the  last  time  he  had 
seen  her.  None  of  the  rest  of  us  recognized  it,  but  love 
had  made  Hez's  eyes  sharp ;  so  we  had  no  reason  to  doubt 
his  word. 

"  Hold  on  a  bit,"  cried  Smith.  "  Don't  you  move  and  de- 
stroy the  trail.     I'll  soon  know  if  she's  been  here." 

fie  ran  to  one  of  his  barns,  where  several  natives  were 
sleeping,  having  been  employed  during  the  day  in  tending 
sheep,  seized  one  of  the  long-haired  fellows  by  his  greasy 
and  matted  locks,  dragged  him  out  of  the  barn,  and  to  the 
spot  where  we  were  standing  with  lighted  lanterns,  and 
pointing  to  the  ground,  said,  "  Teazy  mouhi."  The  fellow 
understood  the  words,  and  his  dark,  eloquent  eyes  surveyed 
our  anxious  faces  with  an  appearance  of  sympathy  that  as- 
sured us  that  his  best  services  were  at  the  disposal  of  his 
master.  He  was  counted  the  best  "  tracker  "  within  a  ra- 
dius of  ten  miles,  and  his  deeds  were  known  from  the  river 
Murray  to  the  Lodden.  The  fellow  was  tall  and  straight, 
and  better  formed  than  most  natives,  and  for  his  quickness 
with  his  eyes  was  called  '^  Kalama,''  or  the  "  Ox-eyed." 

Kalama  took  a  lantern  and  commenced  examining  the 
ground  and  grass,  both  so  hard  from  the  effect  of  the  drought, 
that  a  footstep  made  no  impression  upon  them,  as  far  as  our 
eyes  could  note.  But  our  examination  was  superficial  as 
compared  with  the  native's ;  for  I  never  saw  such  patient 
'industry  as  the  black  displayed.  He  seemed  to  note  the 
manner  in  which  each  blade  of  grass  turned,  even  lifting 
Bome  of  them  from  the  ground,  and  then  allowed  them  to 


A  NATIVE  OJS   THE  TRAIL.  261 

fall.;  so  that  he  could  tell  if  they  had  recently  been  pressed 
by  a  heavy  foot ;  and  after  he  had  spent  some  time  in  such 
an  examination,  he  arose  from  his  knees  and  said,  in  broken 
English,  "  No  girl  goey  dis  way." 

We  looked  at  each  other  in  astonishment. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  the  girl  has  not  passed  this  way  ?  *' 
Smith  asked. 

"  Yese ;  no  goey  dis  way.     Man  foot  all  time." 

We  pricked  up  our  ears  at  this  information. 

**  What  maney  goey  dis  way  ?  "  Smith  asked,  imitating  the 
native's  language,  so  that  he  could  comprehend  him  the  more 
readily. 

The  question  was  a  test  of  the  native's  thoroughness  of 
examination ;  but  he  did  not  hesitate  to  answer  it,  not  even 
for  a  moment,  for  his  bright  eyes  were  raised  to  our  faces  as 
he  said, — 

"  Moloch  go ; "  and  he  pointed  with  his  fingers  to  show 
that  he  had  passed  from  the  orchard  towards  the  palm  trees. 

"  Moloch  !  "  we  all  exclaimed ;  "  why,  it  is  impossible. 
He  would  not  dare  to  venture  near  the  house." 

"  Moloch,"  repeated  Kalama,  in  a  firm  tone,  as  though 
his  eyes  were  not  to  be  deceived. 

*'  If  he  says  it's  Moloch,  and  sticks  to  it,  then  we  must 
believe  him,"  Smith  remarked.  *'  But  Moloch  ain't  the  lass. 
She's  the  one  we  want,  and  she's  the  one  we  must  find. 
Can't  you  tell  us  somethin'  about  her.  Ox-eye  ?  " 

"  Num,''*  replied  the  native,  and,  taking  up  the  lantern,  re- 
newed the  search,  following  the  trail  towards  the  palm  trees, 
apparently  without  an  effort,  until  at  last  he  led  us  to  a  tree 
where  a  horse  had  been  tied ;  the  marks  of  its  hoofs  were 
distinctly  visible,  where  he  had  stamped  to  shake  off  the 
cloud  of  insects  that  always  hover  around  animal  life  be- 
neath a  warm  Australian  sun. 

"  The  bloody  villain  has  been  here,"  Smith  remarked. 
"  But  he  couldn't  have  taken  the  lass  with  him,  could  he  ?  " 

Ox»eye  soon  answered  that  question.  He  had  examined 
the  grass  and  ground,  and  now  a  smile  of  triumph  passed 
over  his  face,  as  he  said,  — 


262  THE  UUSHRAJSGERS. 

'*  Lass  go  Moloch." 

**  Are  you  sure  ?  "  we  demanded,  eagerly. 

"  Gro  Molocli,"  was  tlie  only  answer,  and  It  pointed  to  tb* 
ground. 

"  I  have  it,"  cried  Hez,  who  had  been  in  a  fever  of  excite- 
ment during  the  whole  of  the  search.  "  The  tarnal  villain 
carried  the  gal  in  his  arms  to  the  hoss,  and  then,  jist  afore  he 
lifted  her  up  to  the  saddle,  stood  her  on  the  ground  for  a 
moment.  I  tell  ye  that  audacious  cuss  has  got  her,  and  is  oif 
to  the  mountains  with  her,  and  we  shan't  see  no  more  of  her/* 

Ox-eye  could  not  understand  all  that  was  said,  but  he 
comprehended  enough  to  nod  his  head,  showing  that  he  in- 
dorsed all  that  Hez  had  uttered ;  and  the  rest  of  us  were 
forced  to  think  Hopeful  correct  in  his  supposition.  Just  at 
this  moment.  Smith's  assistant  stockman  rode  up  in  hot 
haste  from  Farmer  White's.  He  reported  that  no  one  of 
the  family  had  seen  anything  of  Amelia,  and  offered  all  as- 
sistance in  case  she  was  lost  in  the  bush. 

"  It's  no  use  for  us  to  stand  here  gapin'  at  each  other," 
Hez  cried.  "  The  gal  is  gone,  and  we  must  find  her.  Let's 
etart  in  chase  at  once." 

"  How  in  the  devil's  name  can  we  trace  her  in  the  dark  ?  " 
roared  Smith. 

"  Why,  by  the  aid  of  the  nigger,"  answered  Hez,  quite 
confidently. 

"  But  he  can't  see  in  the  dark ;  "  and  as  Smith  spoke  he 
wrung  his  hands  and  looked  as  though  he  would  like  to  lay 
his  brawny  paws  upon  the  neck  of  his  treacherous  servant. 

'*  No,  no  more  he  can't,"  Hopeful  answered  ;  and  he  began 
to  look  wild,  for  he  knew,  and  we  all  knew,  what  kind  of 
treatment  the  young  lady  would  receive  at  the  hands  of  Mo- 
loch, unless  he  was  closely  pursued  and  prevented  from  car- 
rying out  his  designs. 

At.  this  instant,  as  though  to  remind  me  that  an  important 
friend  was  at  hand,  ready  to  afford  any  assistance  in  his 
power.  Rover,  the  noble  hound,  whose  scent  was  superior  to 
the  native's  eye,  poked  his  cold,  damp  nose  in  my  nand,  aod 
uttered  a  low  whine,  which  no  one  noticed  but  myself. 


THE  PURSUIT.  263 

"Hopeful,"  I  said,  "you  and  I  will  sttxt  in  pursuit  of 
the  lady.  Give  us  the  best  horses  on  the  farm,  provisions 
enough  to  last  us  three  days,  and  we  will  see  what  can  be 
done." 

**  I'm  with  you,  old  fellow,"  replied  Hez,  in  a  hearty  tone. 

"  But  I'll  go  too,"  Smith  cried. 

"  No,  you  must  stay  at  the  house  and  look  after  yom 
visitors.     We  do  not  need  you." 

"  But  I'll  be  d — d  if  I  don't  go,"  Smith  roared ;  "yon 
can't  find  the  way  through  the  bush  without  me." 

"  Then  we  shall  get  lost.  But  I  am  not  fearful.  Give  as 
the  horses  and  we'll  start." 

"  But  you  can't  track  'em  in  the  night,  I  tell  you,"  re- 
monstrated  Smith. 

"  We  can't,  but  Rover  can,"  I  answered,  in  a  quiet  tone. 

"  The  devil !  I  never  once  thought  of  the  hound.  If  he 
takes  the  scent  you'll  have  hard  work  to  keep  up  with  him. 
The  dog  is  quicker  than  Ox-eye  ; "  and  then  Smith  renewed 
his  argument  in  favor  of  going  with  us ;  but  we  would  not 
listen  to  him,  for  we  did  not  need  his  services,  Hez  and  I 
thinking  that  we  were  quite  competent  to  take  care  of  Mo- 
loch, in  case  we  were  fortunate  enough  to  meet  him. 

At  last  we  convinced  Smith  that  his  place  was  at  home , 
and  then  he  gave  orders  for  saddling  the  horses,  and  re- 
turned with  us  to  the  house  to  pack  in  our  knapsacks  a 
blanket,  some  bread  and  cheese,  a  flask  of  wine,  dried  beef, 
and  some  other  things  which  were  needed  for  our  welfare 
during  our  absence. 

"  Down  with  yer,  and  put  some  of  that  'ere  supper  into 
yer  insides,"  Smith  said,  pointing  to  the  table  which  his  wife 
had  suddenly  loaded  with  the  best  that  the  house  contained, 
in  spite  of  her  grief  at  the  abduction  of  her  sister.  '*  B 
won't  take  but  a  minute  ;  jist  while  I'm  gittin'  a  few  things 
put  up  for  yer." 

We  knew  that  the  advice  was  good ;  for  we  did  not  kno\V 
how  long  we  should  be  absent ;  so  down  we  sat,  and  ate 
most  heartily.  By  the  time  we  had  finished,  the  horses  were 
Bianding  at  the  door,  and  Rover  was  full  of  anxiety  and 


264  THE  BUSHRAI!fGERS. 

doubt.     I  threw  a  few  scraps  to  the  animal,  just  enough  to 
whet  his  appetite. 

"  All  ready,"  said  Hez,  who  had  employed  his  leisure 
time  in  loading  our  revolvers  and  putting  up  a  stock  of  am- 
munition. 

I  rose  to  go,  when  Mrs.  Smith  threw  herself  into  my  arms. 

"  You  will  bring  her  back  to  me  if  it  is  a  possible  thing  ?  '* 
she  said,  in  tones  that  could  hardly  be  heard  for  stified  sobs. 

"I  will  save  her  or  avenge  hcx,"  I  answered,  and  then 
pla»3d  the  poor  woman  in  her  husband's  arms,  and  was  just 
turning  to  leave  the  room,  when  Jenny  met  me  face  to  face. 

'*  I  must  leave  you  for  the  present,  Jenny,"  I  said,  as  I 
took  her  hand  and  pressed  it  warmly,  to  which  she  made  no 
objection.  "  You  will  remain  here  until  I  return,  and  then 
I'll  see  you  safe  to  Melbourne." 

"  Don't  want  no  one  to  see  me  there.  I  can  go  alone.  I 
can  find  the  way.  If  you  leave  the  house  now,  you  won't 
see  me  again,  not  soon.  If  you  want  to  run  after  women  I 
shan't  wait  for  you."  She  jerked  her  hand  away,  and 
walked  towards  the  window. 

"  What  do  you  want  me  to  do,  Jenny  ?  "  I  asked,  as  I 
followed  her. 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  do  nothin',"  the  girl  said,  in  a  petu- 
lant manner.     "  You  jist  clear  out  from  me." 

I  was  indignant,  and  stepped  back  the  quicker,  because  I 
heard  Sir  William  and  Hez  attempt  to  smother  a  laugh  by 
the  aid  of  a  cough. 

*'  I'm  ready,"  I  said,  and  without  another  look  at  the 
handsome  girl,  I  left  the  room.      / 

"  We'll  look  arter  the  lass,"  Smith  whispered,  as  I  crossed 
the  threshold. 

"  I  don't  care  whether  you  do  or  not,"  I  answered,  for  1 
was  angry  with  Jenny,  and  at  the  manner  in  which  she  had 
treated  me. 

"  Don't  be  angry  with  the  poor  child,"  Sir  William  re- 
marked.    "  Kemember,  she  is  not  a  lady." 

He  extended  his  hand  as  he  spoke,  and  pressed  mine, 
and  after  a  moment's  silence  continued  :  — 


THE  PURSUIT.  265 

**  When  you  return,  it's  quite  probable  tbat  I  shall  be  in 
Melbourne.    May  1  not  hope  to  see  you  there  before  long  ? " 

"  I  trust  so." 

*'  If  we  should  not  see  each  other  there,  do  not  be  surprised, 
for  my  mission  to  this  country  is  of  an  extraordinary  nature,  and 
I  must  go  where  even  a  trace  of  information  may  lead  me.'* 

The  baronet  uttered  a  deep  sigh,  as  though  his  heart  was 
touched ;  and  without  venturing  another  word  he  retreated 
into  the  house,  and  resumed  his  old  position  by  the  window. 

"  Now  leave  us,"  I  said,  as  all  the  members  of  the  farm  gath- 
ered around ;  "I  want  to  put  the  dog  on  the  scent.  Good  by, 
all  of  you.     We  will  return  with  Amelia  or  Moloch's  head." 

The  crowd  retreated  to  the  house  and  outbuildings,  while 
Hez  and  I  led  our  horses  towards  the  grove  of  palms,  and 
then  called  Rover,  and  pointed  to  the  marks  which  Moloch's 
horse  had  made,  and  bade  the  hound  look  around.  He  put 
his  nose  to  the  earth,  snuffed  a  little,  first  in  one  spot  and 
then  in  another,  moving  round  in  a  circle  at  the  same  time, 
until  at  last  he  raised  his  head  and  uttered  a  low  bay. 

"  No  noise,"  I  said.  "  We  must  follow  them  without 
giving  an  alarm." 

Rover  wagged  his  tail,  waited  until  I  had  mounted  my 
horse,  and  then,  with  his  nose  close  to  the  earth,  started  in 
the  direction  of  the  Lodden  ;  and  just  as  we  galloped  off 
I  heard  the  police  squad  arrive  in  front  of  the  house. 


CHAPTER    XL. 

THE  PURSTJIT. BKIDGE   OF   SALT. MYSTERIOUS   SOUNDS. 

ALLIGATORS    AND    THEIR   ATTACKS. AN   ESCAPE. 

Rover  followed  the  trail  without  faltering.  He  ran  along 
with  his  nose  to  the  ground,  keeping  just  ahead  of  us,  so 
that  we  did  not  lose  sight  of  him  for  a  moment ;  and  in  this 
manner  we  dashed  over  the  prairie,  sometimes  checking  our 
horses  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  a  bog  or  salt  spring,  the 


266  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

latter  to  be  found  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  dnd  sometimea 
in  the  most  unexpected  places  ;  and,  confound  them,  they 
have  caused  more  blaspheming  to  men  on  horseback  than 
even  the  Australian  insects,  which  fill  your  nostrils,  your 
ears,  and  your  mouth,  unless  you  keep  it  shut ;  for  in  the 
night  time,  when  near  a  light,  even  if  you  undertake  to 
swallow  a  "  drink,"  unless  the  neck  of  the  bottle  fills  your 
mouth,  insects  will  creep  in  and  take  their  chance  with  the 
liquor.  And  sometimes,  iii  the  dark,  such  an  event  occurs  ; 
for  Hez.  who  had  been  nervous  and  eager  ever  since  he  had 
learned  of  the  abduction,  and  had  only  kept  up  his  spirits  by 
the  aid  of  a  pocket  "  pistol,"  while  trotting  along  by  my 
side,  drew  his  bottle  and  threw  back  his  head ;  but  the  next 
moment,  with  a  strangling  cry  and  a  terrible  fit  of  coughing, 
he  exclaimed, — 

"  0,  darn  !  I've  swallowed  a  bug  bigger  than  my  fist,  and 
the  cuss  is  gnawing  at  my  vitals.  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  and 
the  poor  fellow  commenced  pounding  his  stomach,  which 
sounded  like  a  badly  strung  bass  drum. 

"  Drown  him  with  liquor,"  I  exclaimed,  laughing  so  that 
I  could  hardly  sit  my  horse. 

"  I'll  do  it ; "  and  once  more  the  bottle  was  applied  to  his 
lips,  and  a  long  pull  showed  that  Hez  was  determined  to 
have  satisfaction. 

"  Ah,  I  guess  I've  fixed  him,"  Hopeful  remarked,  as  he 
removed  the  "pistol"  and  took  a  long  breath;  "I  don't 
feel  him  now." 

He  had  hardly  ceased  speaking  when  Rover  halted,  and 
manifested  signs  of  having  lost  the  scent.  We  waited  a  few 
minutes  in  hopes  that  he  would  recover  it ;  but  as  he  did 
not,  I  rode  forward  a  few  steps,  and  saw  that  we  were  close  to 
a  deep  bog,  and  that  if  we  had  rode  into  it  we  should  have 
lost  our  animals,  for  we  could  not  have  got  them  out  of  the 
black  mud,  most  of  it  encrusted  with  salt,  showing  the 
nature  of  the  water  that  flowed  into  the  marsh.  Moloch 
had  crossed  the  bog  —  that  was  evident;  but  he  knew  the 
path,  while  we  did  not,  and  it  was  rather  difficult  for  Rover 
to  find  it  on  account  of  the  water,  which  destroyed  the  scent, 


THE  PURSUIT.  267 

and  caused  us  to  lose  much  valuable  time.  I  dismounted, 
and  commenced  an  examination  on  my  own  account.  There 
were  thousands  of  sheep  tracks  in  the  vicinity,  for  the  an- 
imals had  visited  the  marsh  for  the  purpose  of  licking  the 
salt ;  and  there  were  the  tracks  of  cattle,  some  of  the  latter 
having  wallowed  deep  in  the  mud,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of 
enjoying  the  luxury  of  a  bath,  and  escaping  from  the  per- 
secuting flies  and  mosquitos.  As  I  stumbled  around,  some- 
times up  to  my  knees  in  mud  and  water,  Eover  wagged  his 
tail,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I'll  see  how  you  succeed  where  I  fail ; 
but  if  you  find  the  trail  you'll  do  better  than  I  anticipate." 

At  last,  by  some  sort  of  accident,  I  crossed  a  little  sheet 
of  water,  where  I  found  hard  and-  firm  bottom.  A  short 
distance  from  the  water,  not  more  than  one  or  two  inches 
deep,  was  a  white  crust  of  salt,  so  substantial  that  it  felt 
under  foot  like  quartz.  .  It  was  about  ten  feet  wide,  but  the 
length  I  could  not  judge  of  on  account  of  the  darkness.  I 
could  see  that  it  led  in  the  direction  of  the  river ;  but  I 
hardly  dared  to  hope  that  it  was  a  natural  bridge,  and  one 
strong  enough  to  cross  to  firm  land.  But  in  a  moment  all 
doubts  were  set  at  rest,  for  Rover  joined  me,  gave  one  sniff, 
and  with  a  bay  announced  that  the  lost  trail  had  been  found. 
With  his  nose  close  to  the  salt  he  started  to  follow;  but  I 
stopped  him,  and  compelled  him  to  wait  until  we  were  ready 
to  continue  the  pursuit.  I  shouted  to  Hez  that  we  were  all 
right,  and  to  lead  the  animals  towards  me,  and  then  I  stooped 
down  and  saw  the  marks  of  a  horse's  hoofs  on  the  hard  salt; 
BO  there  could  be  no  mistake  but  that  we  had  hit  on  the  right 
trail;  but  the  fact  that  Moloch  had  made  use  of  the  biidge 
was  sufficient  to  convince  me  that  he  was  rather  a  cunning 
sort  of  a  genius,  and  knew  more  than  I  had  given  him  ciedit 
for,  and  that  if  a  capture  was  to  be  made,  much  discretion 
must  be  used  on  our  part. 

"  Wal,"   growled  Hez,  as  he  rode  up,  "you  don't  go  for 
to  teU  me  that  the  cuss  has  gone  this  'ere  way  ? " 

*'  It  seems  that  he  has,"  I  answered. 

"  Wal,  blast  the  feller !   who'd  a  s'posed  it  ?     I'd  never 
have  thought  of  looking  for  a  bridge  like  this,  would  you  ?  " 


268  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Yet  you  see  that  I  found  it,"  I  answered,  with  a  little 
Belf-complacency,  that  I  considered  pardonable  under  tho 
circumstances. 

"  So  you  did  ;  I'll  give  .you  the  credit  of  it,  Jack,  and  tell 
everybody  I  know  arter  we  return." 

I  spoke  to  the  dog,  and  he  started  forward,  we  following. 
Then  commenced  one  of  the  most  peculiar  phenomena  that  I 
had  witnessed  for  many  months;  and  even  for  Australia, 
that  land  of  wonder  and  extraordinary  occurrences,  it  was 
something  remarkable.  As  soon  as  we  started  our  horses, 
the  salt  bridge  upon  which  we  stood  commenced  shaking  and 
swaying  back  and  forth,  so  that  our  animals  could  hardly 
keep  their  feet ;  and  they  were  so  terrified  at  their  novel  po- 
sition, that  they  trembled  in  every  part,  and  the  sweat  started 
from  every  pore,  and  covered  their  hides  with  a  dampness 
that  felt  as  though  they  had  just  come  from  a  swim  in  the  river. 

"  There's  an  earthquake,"  roared  Hez  ;  and  he  was  about 
to  slip  from  his  horse,  when  I  checked  him  and  requested 
him  to  remain  quiet. 

He  complied  with  my  demand,  and  the  instant  that  we 
were  quiet,  the  bridge  was  the  same ;  but  if  our  animals 
moved  but  a  foot,  the  frail  structure  quaked  like  a  jelly,  with 
regular  undulations  similar  to  the  waves  of  the  ocean,  while 
at  the  same  time,  from  all  parts  of  the  quagmire  issued  sighs 
and  groans  like  those  uttered  by  a  human  being  in  terrible 
pain,  or  the  regular  moan  of  a  high-pressure  steam  engine. 

With  some  difficulty  we  soothed  our  horses,  and  induced 
them  to  remain  quiet.  The  sighs  and  groans  which  they 
heard,  human-like  in  their  agony,  had  frightened  the  brutes 
as  well  as  ourselves  ;  and  with  their  long  ears  thrown  back 
close  to  their  heads,  and  their  eyes  restless  and  dancing  in 
all  directions,  it  was  with  much  trouble  that  we  were  enabled 
to  prevent  their  backing  off  the  bridge  into  the  mud,  or  else 
turning  and  retreating  the  way  in  which  they  came. 

Our  hound,  apparently  imbued  with  no  superstitious  ideas 
respecting  the  noises,  finding  that  we  did  not  follow  him, 
returned  to  us,  wagging  liis  tail,  as  though  wondering  what 
we  meant  by  not  continuing  the  chase. 


BEIDGE  OF  SALT.  269 

Hopeful,  whose  eyes  had  protruded  to  an  unusual  extent, 
while  the  sighs  and  groans  were  prevailing,  now  managed  to 
Bpeak. 

"  Grol  darn  it.  Jack,  what's  the  meaning  of  these  'ere 
noises  ?     I  don't  understand  *em." 

"  Neither  do  I,"  but  I  began  to  have  a  faint  glimmering 
of  how  the  sounds  were  produced. 

"  I  tell  you  it's  jist  enough  to  make  a  man's  hair  stand 
right  up  en  an  end.  It  sounds  jist  as  when  old  uncle  John 
kicked  the  bucket  when  he  didn't  want  to,  and  he  tore  all 
aunt's  sheets  to  bits  afore  he  would  straighten  out  and  shut 
his  eyes." 

"  Pshaw !  you  don't  suppose  that  the  sighs  and  groans 
which  we  heard  were  produced  by  unnatural  agencies,  do 
you?" 

"  No,  but  I  wish  I  was  out  of  it,  I  do." 

"  Then  we  must  make  a  start,"  I  replied.  "  We  only  waste 
time  here." 

As  I  spoke,  Hez  uttered  an  exclamation  of  alarm. 

"  Look  !  "  he  said.  "  "We  shall  be  swallered  up  as  well  as 
jfrightened  to  death." 

I  looked  down,  and  noticed  for  the  first  time  that  water 
had  overflowed  the  bridge  where  we  stood,  and  was  already 
some  two  inches  deep. 

"  Let's  get  out  of  this,"  cried  Hez.  "  I've  had  enough 
of  swamps.     Grol  darn  'em,  say  I." 

I  grasped  my  horse  by  the  bridle,  and  led  him  forward  a 
few  steps  ;  but  the  instant  we  advanced,  the  sighs  and  groans 
came  from  all  parts  of  the  swamp,  more  terrible  than  ever, 
until  it  seemed  like  a  hundred  fiends  near  us,  and  laugh- 
ing at  us.  The  animals  manifested  their  terror  by  snort- 
ing and  rearing,  and  making  desperate  efforts  to  break  awaj 
from  our  grasp. 

Suddenly,  within  a  few  yards  of  Hez,  who  was  on  the 
eight,  came  a  snort  and  a  roar  that  sounded  entirely  dif- 
ferent from  anything  we  had  yet  heard.  Hopeful  started, 
and  exclaimed  in  astonishment,  — 

*'  Jehosaphat !  what  in  the  devil's  name  is  that  ? ' 


270  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

If  Hez  did  not  know,  I  did  ;  and  I  was  well  aware  tlai 
more  danger  was  near  us,  unless  we  made  tracks  or  showed 
fight.  As  Hez  asked  the  important  question,  there  was  a 
loud  splash  on  the  left  of  the  bridge,  a  shower  of  water  was 
dashed  into  my  face,  and  as  some  of  it  reached  my  eyes, 
nearly  blinded  me  for  a  moment,  burning  my  flesh  like 
caustic. 

'*  0,  darn  ! "  yelled  Hopeful ;  "  I've  got  some  of  the 
blasted  stuff  in  my  mouth.     Bah  !  " 

"  Jack,  what  is  this  thing  near  me  ? "  asked  Hopeful,  when 
he  had  cleared  his  throat,  and  was  able  to  speak.  "  It  looks 
like  a  blasted  log,  but  it  ain't,  you  know,  'cos  logs  don't 
throw  water  at  a  feller." 

"  Hez,"  I  said,  in  as  calm  a  tone  as  I  could  command, 
"  we  are  surrounded  by  alligators." 

"What?"  asked  the  New  Hampshire  genius  in  a  tone 
that  was  loud  enough  to  awaken  all  the  alligators  in  the 
swamp. 

I  repeated  my  remark. 

"  Wal,  this  is  the  cussedest  country  I  ever  heard  teU  of,'* 
was  the  response,  for  Hez  seemed  to  care  less  about  the 
slimy  brutes,  than  he  did  for  the  sighs  and  groans. 

I  saw  at  once  from  Hez's  remark  that  he  knew  but  little 
respecting  the  habits  of  alligators. 

"  Jack,"  he  said,  in  a  light,  bantering  tone,  as  though  the 
subject  was  rather  a  laughable  one  than  otherwise,  ''  I'm 
blamed  if  that  old  log  ain't  comin'  for  me,  jist  as  sure  as 
you  live." 

"  If  it  comes  too  near,"  I  said,  "  aim  at  the  mo:th  and 
fire." 

"  How  do  you  call  too  near  ?  "  Hez  demanded.  "  The 
cuss  is  so  near  now  that  I  can  see  that  he's  got  a  very  open 
countenance,  and  rather  good  teeth.  Blast  him !  I  guesa 
he's  cleaned  'em  lately." 

I  glanced  to  the  other  side  of  the  bridge,  and  saw  that 
Hopeful  was  confronted  by  an  alligator  at  least  twelve  or 
fifteen  feet  long. 

"  Jack,"  said  my  friend,  while  I  was  watching  the  slo^ 


ALLIGATORS   AND  THIcm  ATTACKS.  271 

movements  of  the  alligator,  *'  this  cuss  keeps  comiu'  nearer 
and  nearer.     What  shall  I  do  ? " 

Hez  was  a  short  distance  behind  me,  on  the  near  side  of 
his  horse,  holding  the  animal  by  the  bridle,  and  with  one 
hand  on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  ready  to  leap  into  it  in 
case  it  was  necessary  to  ride  for  his  life.  This  explanation 
is  desirable  to  illustrate  what  followed,  and  how  Hopeful 
escaped  from  what  was  intended  as  a  death-blow.  I  had 
told  Hez,  in  a  low  tone,  to  take  certain  aim  and  fire  at  the 
monster's  head;  while  I  looked  after  the  alligator  on  my 
left,  which  had  as  yet  shown  no  signs  of  animation  or  hos- 
tility. 

"  I'm  all  ready,"  said  Hez,  cocking  his  revolver. 

"  Then  fire." 

There  was  a  sharp  report,  a  terrible  splash,  and  showers 
of  mud  fell  upon  us.  My  horse  made  desperate  attempts  to 
escape,  but  I  managed  to  hold  him  fast ;  and  while  I  was 
thus  engaged,  I  heard  Hopeful  exclaim,  — 

"  Wal,  I'm  blessed  if  that  ain't  a  go  ! " 

As  soon  as  I  could  clear  my  eyes  I  saw  Hopeful's  horse 
off  the  bridge,  struggling  in  the  mud,  and  half  a  dozen  alli- 
gators wiggling  towards  it. 

"  Did  you  see  that  ?  "  asked  Hez,  in  a  cool,  unconcerned 
tone. 

"  No.     What  has  happened  ? " 

"  Why,  that  blasted  brute  jist  put  up  his  tail,  rapped  my 
liorse  on  the  head,  jist  clearing  me,  and  thar  the  poor  cuss 
'S  up  to  his  neck  in  mud,  and  no  hope  of  gittin'  him  out." 

"Porward,"  I  shouted.  "We  have  not  a  moment  to 
lose.  We  have  aroused  all  the  alligators  of  the  marsh,  and 
fiiey  are  pushing  towards  us." 

"  Forward  it  is,"  returned  Hez.     "  I'm  ready." 


272  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

PEEILOrs  POSITION. ESCAPE  FEOM  ALLIGATOES. ON  J'OOT. 

A   WESTERN    MAN    IN    AXJSTEALIA. HE    JOINS    US. 

But  we  encountered  an  unexpected  obstacle;  for  when 
I  attempted  to  lead  my  horse,  he  refused  to  budge  an  inch. 

"  Jack,"  said  Hopeful,  "what  shall  we  do?  Hadn't  we 
better  leave  the  brute  and  cut  stick  —  hey  ? " 

I  was  almost  resolved  to  do  so,  for  the  roaring  and  splash- 
ing around  us  began  to  assume  such  proportions  that  we 
thought  of  Daniel  in  the  lions'  den. 

"  If  the  cusses  would  only  give  me  time,"  muttered  Hez, 
as  he  surveyed  the  black-headed  monsters  encircling  the 
carcass  of  the  horse,  with  snapping  jaws  and  limber  tails, 
"  I'd  make  a  trap  that  would  catch  a  dozen  in  twenty-four 
hours,  and  then  we  could  go  into  the  alligator-skin  busi- 
ness, or  start  a  shoe-shop,  on  our  own  account.  Thunder ! 
couldn't  we  make  money !  " 

"  Curse  your  shoe-shops  !  "  I  exclaimed.  "  Help  me  with 
this  frightened  beast,  will  you  ? " 

"  Chuck  him  in  with  the  other,"  Hez  remarked,  in  a  good- 
natured  tone,  as  though  he  stood  on  one  of  his  granite  hills, 
instead  of  on  a  treacherous  bridge  with  monsters  on  each 
side  of  him. 

Just  as  he  spoke,  an  alligator  nearly  fifteen  feet  long  com- 
menced crawling  on  the  bridge  with  the  intention  of  crossing 
it.  It  was  not  more  than  two  yards  from  us,  and  seemed 
to  cire  as  little  for  our  presence  as  it  did  for  its  comrades. 
I  suppose  that  to  this  monster  we  were  indebted  for  the 
manner  in  which  we  escaped ;  for  the  alligator  inspired  my 
horse  with  such  unbounded  terror  that  he  ceased  trembling 
and  endeavoring  to  retreat.  He  gave  a  snort,  reared,  broke 
from  my  grasp,  and,  to  my  surprise,  dashed  ahead,  regard- 
less of  the  quaking  bridge,  the  slime  that  covered  it,  or  the 
devilish  roars  of  the  alligators,  disturbed  in  their  feed  vy 
the  racket. 


ESCAPE  FROM  ALLIGATORS.  —  OJ}   FOOT.  273 

"  There  goes  your  hoss,"  yelled  Hez. 

"Yes,  and  here  I  go  in  pursuit,"  was  my  answer;  and 
furward  I  went  at  a  rapid  rate,  followed  by  Hez,  and  soon 
left  our  musk-smelling  acquaintances  far  behind  us. 

The  instant  I  struck  dry  and  hard  land  I  paused  to  take 
breath  and  consult  with  Hopeful  as  to  the  next  movement. 
We  could  hear  my  horse  crashing  through  the  bush  half  a 
mile  distant,  and  we  knew  that  he  would  not  stop  till  entirely 
exhausted,  and  unfit  for  further  service  ;  so  it  was  useless 
to  pursue  the  animal.  Even  if  we  succeeded  in  catching 
him,  he  could  not  aid  us  in  continuing  the  pursuit ;  so  we 
resolved  to  follow  Moloch  on  foot,  and  let  the  horse  go, 
knowing  quite  well  that  the  animal  would  be  picked  up  by 
the  shepherds  and  returned  to  Smith  at  no  distant  day,  the 
peculiar  brand  upon  the  horse's  flank  proclaiming  the  owner- 
ship without  question  or  doubt. 

As  soon  as  we  had  rested  we  called  to  Rover,  once  more 
put  him  on  the  trail,  and  started  over  a  broad  prairie.  On 
we  went  across  it,  skirted  the  river  near  the  ford,  and  ap- 
proached a  clump  of  palm  trees  that  stood  just  at  the  edge 
of  the  plain ;  and  when  we  were  within  gunshot  of  them, 
Rover  uttered  a  peculiar  bay,  and  bounded  forward. 

"  By  darn,"  cried  Hez,  "  we  has  'em." 

But  I  knew  better,  for  Rover  never  uttered  such  a  sound 
as  that  when  in  the  vicinity  of  an  enemy ;  and  a  minute  later 
proved  that  I  was  correct  in  my  surmises,  for  a  gruff  voice 
cried  out,  "  What  in  thunder's  name  do  ye  mean  a  settin'  a 
dog  on  me  ?  I'll  be  darned  if  any  western  man  will  be  put 
on  in  this  'ere  style  by  Britishers  or  'Stralians,  niggers  or 
boomerang  throwers.     Call  off  yer  dog,  I  say." 

'*  Don't  be  alarmed,"  I  cried.  "  The  dog  won't  hurt  you 
unless  you  provoke  him." 

"  Provoke  him  !  "  repeated  the  man ;  "  why,  I  ain't  doin' 
nothin'  to  provoke  him.  I'm  just  settin'  down  'ere  smokin' 
to  keep  off  the  skeeters.  But  you  just  wait  a  minute  till  I 
stir  up  the  fire,  and  then  we'll  see  who  you  is,  and  what  you 
is  arter." 

As  the  stranger  spoke  he  threw  on  the  smouldeiing  fire 


274  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

some  dry,  resinous  sticks,  and  they  instantly  blazed  up,  re- 
pealing a  man  about  thirty  years  of  age,  as  near  as  we  could 
judge,  with  long  hair  and  immense  beard,  neither  of  which 
had  been  trimmed  for  some  months.  He  was  a  tall,  thin 
individual,  with  round  shoulders,  long  arms,  and  not  a  spare 
ounce  of  flesh  on  his  body. 

"TVal,  strangers,"  cried  the  long-haired  individual,  "you 
is  on  a  late  tramp  to-night.  Where  might  you  be  from  ? 
Bendigo  or  Ballarat  ? " 

"  Neither,"  I  answered. 

"  Be  you  from  the  new  diggin's  up  at  the  Devil's  Elbow  ? 
I  heard  tell  that  it's  mighty  rich  dirt  up  thar.     But  they  lie 

so  like in  this  kintry  that  a  decent  man  don't  know  what 

to  believe." 

I  shook  my  head  as  I  pulled  out  my  pipe  and  commenced 
lighting  it. 

"  Strangers,"  said  the  long-haired  individual,  in  an  im- 
pressive manner,  "you  don't  mean  to  say  that  ye  are  on  the 
bushranger  lay,  do  yer  ?  'Cause  if  ye  do,  jist  let  me  say 
to  yer  that  I  ain't  got  a  darned  dime,  and  the  only  thing  I'm 
worth  is  this  old  rifle,  and  if  ye  want  that  ye  must  fight  me 
for  it." 

"  Why  do  you  think  we  are  on  the  bushranging  lay  ? "  I 
asked. 

"  Yes,  jist  tell  us  that,"  broke  in  Hez,  speaking  for  the 
first  time. 

"  By  the  Lord  Harry,  strangers,  if  you  ain't  Yankees,  then 
darn  me  !  "  shouted  the  long-haired  individual. 

"  And  you  are  —  " 

"  A  native  of  the  Great  West,  sir,  whar  the  big  rivers  is 
found,  and  the  wide  prairies,  and  the  rich  sile,  and  the  great 
crops,  and  the  handsome  women-folks." 

As  the  western  man  spoke,  he  extended  his  hand,  and  we 
had  a  fraternal  greeting  beneath  those  palm  trees. 

"  From  your  description,  I  should  say  that  you  were  from 
Illinois,"  I  remarked. 

"  Yes,  sir,  from  lUinise,  Washington  county,  whar  I  was 
born  and  brought  up,  man  and  boy,  till  this  'ere  darnation 


A  WESTERN   MAN  IN  AUSTRALIA.  276 

gold  fever  took  me  and  carried  me  off  to  this  place,  whar  t 
ain't  made  shucks  for  "months  past." 

*'  Sorry  to  hear  it.  I  hope  you  will  have  better  luck  iii 
future." 

"  Hope  so,  too,  stranger ;  but  I'm  a  little  doubtful.  I 
wan'*t  one  of  the  kind  what  come  into  the  world  with  a  silver 
spoon  in  my  mouth,  and  a  pair  of  silk  stockings  on.  But 
Bill  Ilackett  don't  grumble  at  that ;  he  takes  things  jist  as 
he  finds  'em." 

While  Mr.  William  Hackett,  of  Washington  county,  Illinois, 
was  talking,  he  also  was  working,  and  in  some  mysterious 
manner  had  managed  to  put  a  little  tin  coffee-pot  on  the 
fire,  to  fill  it  with  water  from  a  tin  canteen,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  presented  Hez  and  myself  with  about  a  pint  of  very 
fair  coffee,  which  was  quite  acceptable  to  us  after  the  fatigues 
of  the  night. 

"  Drink,  strangers,"  said  Hackett,  who  appeared  to  have 
all  the  liberality  of  the  western  people.  "  I  know  men  must 
feel  a  little  puckery  in  the  mouth  after  a  long  tramp.  Do 
yer  want  a  bite  of  somethin'  ?  I've  got  a  little  bacon,  and 
a  few  cakes  of  bread ;  but  ye're  welcome  to  'em,  as  all  my 
countrymen  would  be  if  they  was  hard  up,  and  I  should  meet 
'em  in  this  blasted  country,  which  don't  make  whiskey,  raise 
corn,  and  precious  few  hogs.  What  do  they  know  here  about 
bacon  ?     No  thin'." 

Mr.  Hackett  took  his  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  expressed 
his  disgust  by  spitting  at  a  burning  knot.  He  aimed  so 
accurately  that  the  flame  went  out  with  a  sudden  sizzle ;  and 
the  spitter  remarked,  with  a  complacent  snort,  — 

"  I  knowd  I  could  hit  it.  I  never  misses  my  aim.  I  can 
hit  anything  within  two  yards.  You  can  bet  on  that.  JNow, 
Dtrangers,  I've  told  you  all  about  myself.  I've  given  you  a 
whole  history  of  my  doin's.  I  ain't  kept  back  nothin' 
at  all.  Now,  let's  see  if  you  can  enlighten  me  a  little 
about  yerselves.  Yer  see  I  am  all  in  the  dark  about  you 
fellers." 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  my  friend,"  I  said,  **  we  are  in 
pursuit  of  a  man  who  has  committed  a  great  wrong,  and  su 

19 


276  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

anxious  are  we  to  overtake  the  fellow  that  we  must  instautlj 
part  company." 

"  Sorry  for  that,  strangers ; "  and  then,  as  we  finished  om 
coffee  and  rose  to  go,  he  continued :  — 

"  Might  I  ask  what  the  -cuss  has  been  doin'  that  start3  you 
on  his  trail  ? " 

"  He  has  abducted  a  young  woman." 

"  He  has  done  what  ? "  roared  Hackett. 

*'  He  has  carried  off  a  young  woman  much  against  her 
wiU." 

"  0,"  growled  Hackett,  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  "  I  thought 
he'd  done  somethin'  else.  He's  only  carried  her  off.  Wal, 
you  must  get  her  back  agin." 

"  That's  what  we  intend  to  do." 

'*  Wal,  then,  I'll  jist  pack  up  and  jine  ye.  I  tell  ye,  I'm 
tired  enough  of  sinking  shafts,  and  findin'  nothin'  but  sand 
and  water.     A  bit  of  a  tramp  won't  hurt  me,  nor  nothin'." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  leave  some  of  your  traps  behind," 
I  said,  as  the  Illinois  gentleman  threw  his  knapsack  over  his 
shoulders  and  fastened  it  in  front. 

"  What  for  ? "  demanded  Hackett. 

"  We  may  have  a  long  tramp,  and  your  load  will  feel  heavy 
before  we  have  time  to  rest." 

"  0,  that  is  it  ? "  and  Mr.  Hackett  did  not  appear  to  feel 
as  though  the  advice  was  worth  taking. 

"  I  ain't  much  on  a  tramp,  stranger,"  Hackett  continued, 
as  he  threw  his  rifle  over  his  shoulder  ;  "  that  is,  compared 
to  some  of  the  Ulinise  folks ;  but  when  I  cry  baby,  you 
jist  sot  me  down  as  a  poor  coot,  and  unworthy  the  great 
state  that  I  represent.  Now,  then,  shall  we  start  ai-ter  the 
mean  cuss  what  took  the  gal  ?  or  shall  we  stand  here  all  night 
and  look  \j  each  other  jist  as  though  we  was  beauties,  and 
had  fallen  in  love  with  each  other  ?  " 

"  We  will  start,"  I  said.  So,  calling  Eover,  I  directed  him 
to  once  more  find  the  trail  —  no  difficult  task,  for  the  dog 
was  impatient  to  start.  We  then  went  forward,  heading  this 
time  towards  Mount  Macedonskirt,  the  top  of  which  we 
eould  see,  looking  dark  and  sullen  as  the  clouds  settled 


A  TEDIOUS  TRAMP. 


Rround  its  rugged  sides.  So  all  that  long  night  wo  tramped 
on  in  silence,  over  prairies,  across  dry  gullies,  through  brush 
and  grass,  and  patches  of  wood,  straight  on  towards  the 
mountain,  which  began  to  show  its  seared  sides  as  daylight 
came  stealing  over  the  plains,  revealing  in  a  deep  valley  on 
the  right  a  flock  of  sheep,  numbering  thousands,  huddled 
together  for  warmth  and  protection  from  the  wild  dogs,  and 
guarded  by  some  half  a  dozen  shepherds. 

Just  as  the  sun  rose  I  was  glad  to  call  for  a  halt,  and  to 
acknowledge  that  I  was  too  tired  to  proceed  farther  until 
after  a  brief  resting  spell  and  a  cup  of  coffee. 

"  Pooh  !  "  cried  Hackett,  as  he  removed  his  heavy  knap- 
sack ;  "  you  don't  call  this  'ere  walkin',  do  you  ?  Sakes  alive  ! 
I  don't  begin  to  feel  tired.  Won't  somebody  run  a  race  with 
me,  just  so  I  can  get  my  blood  sarculating  ?  " 

I  thought  this  was  western  bombast,  at  first ;  but  a  look 
at  the  man  soon  convinced  me  that  he  was  as  fresh  as  when 
he  started  upon  the  trail. 

But  while  Hez  and  I  threw  ourselves  down  to  take  that 
rest  which  we  so  much  desired,  Hackett  was  busy  unpacking 
his  traps,  making  a  fire,  and  preparing  a  pot  of  coffee. 
After  the  beverage  was  ready,  we  broke  our  fast  with  a  keen 
relish,  and  then  lighted  our  pipes,  and  called  a  council  of 
war  to  deliberate  on  future  proceedings. 


CHAPTER  XLH. 

▲  TEDIOUS  TRAMP. AN  UNEXPECTED  ENEMY. A  STRAKQB 

SIGHT. SERPENTS    IN    PURSUIT. A   FIGHT. 

As  we  lighted  our  pipes  I  looked  for  Hackett,  and  asked 
his  opinion  as  to  our  future  course  ;  for  I  knew  that  he  was 
a  man  whose  word  could  be  depended  upon.  He  had  resided 
two  years  in  Australia,  knew  the  country,  and  the  trails  of 
bushrangers,  had  starved  in  the  mines,  and  suffered  on  the 
prairies  for  the  want  of  water,  was  bold  and  active   and  in 


278  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

fact  just  such  a  man  as  I  desired  to  be  associated  with  in 
hunting  for  Moloch  and  Amelia. 

"  ,Wal,  if  you  ax  me  what  I  think  of  it,"  Hackett  said,  a& 
he  puffed  out  volumes  of  smoke,  "  I  shall  tell  you  right  plain 
that  we  shouldn't  stop  here  no  shakes  of  time,  'cos  if  you  do 
we  shall  miss  the  cuss  just  as  slick  as  greased  lightning.  Hia 
hcss  can't  go  much  further  without  rest ;  so  now  is  our  lime 
to  push  him." 

I  looked  at  my  poor  feet,  which  began  to  feel  like  blister- 
ing, and  sighed  as  I  thought  how  much  I  would  give  for 
three  horses,  just  at  that  time.  But  Hopeful  cared  nothing 
for  blisters  or  fatigue.  His  whole  thoughts  and  anxiety 
were  centred  on  Amelia,  and  fear  that  the  villain  Moloch 
would  do  her  some  injury  before  we  could  overtake  and 
rescue  her.  He  was  impatient  at  the  least  delay,  although 
he  was  more  tired  than  myself. 

"Yes,"  said  the  Illinois  chap,  "if  we  mean  to  find  'em 
we  must  put  arter  'em,  'cos  the  best  hound  that  ever  fol- 
lowed a  trail  can't  keep  on  the  scent  many  hours  artier  this 
hot  sun  has  laid  on  it.  The  dog  is  a  good  dog,  I  won't  deny 
that ;  but  he  can't  do  unpossible  things  like.  No,  you  hadn't 
ought  to  expect  'im  to." 

"  Let  us  start  at  once,"  cried  the  impatient  Hez.  "  I 
shan't  feel  satisfied  till  I've  seen  the  gal  safe,  and  the  mean 
cuss  what  took  her  dead.     Come,  I'm  all  ready." 

"  So  is  I,"  replied  Hackett ;  and  he  collected  his  traps, 
and  stowed  them  in  his  knapsack  in  an  expeditious  manner. 

There  was  no  excuse  for  me  ;  so  I  pulled  on  my  boots  and 
Btarted,  skirted  the  base  of  the  mountain  —  the  side  which 
we  approached  being  too  rugged  and  steep  for  a  horse  to 
ascend.  Of  this  fact  Moloch  appeared  to  be  aware  ;  for  he 
had  made  no  attempt  to  pass  up  the  deep  gorges,  down 
which  the  winter's  rains  poured  in  torrents,  flooding  some 
of  the  low  valleys  with  water  and  sand ;  and  even  huge  rocks 
were  sometimes  carried  long  distances  from  their  native  beds, 
the  mountain  sides  and  summit. 

At  length  we  passed  through  a  grove  of  trees,  and  at  one 
place  we  saw  where   Moloch  had  halted  for  the  purpose  of 


AN  UNEXPECTED  ENEMY.  279 

resting  his  liorse  ;  and  we  could  even  note  how  the  rascal  had 
struggled  with  the  girl  when  he  wanted  to  resumo  his  jour* 
ney,  and  Amelia  had  refused  to  be  lifted  on  horseback. 
Perhaps  I  should  not  have  noted  the  signs  if  it  had  not 
been  for  Hackett,  whose  eyes  were  like  a  hawk's.  He 
pointed  out  the  marks  of  the  young  girl's  feet,  and  showed 
us  how  she  had  been  dragged  some  distance  by  the  ruffian. 

"Don't  you  see  that  the  boss  was  kind  of  uneasy  like." 
See  how  he  sorter  stepped  around  and  kicked  up  a  dust. 
That  shows  that  the  gal  resisted,  and  the  cuss  had  some 
work  to  get  her  near  the  animal.  Of  course  while  they 
was  a  fighting  the  boss  wasn't  quiet.  Come  on  —  the  scent 
is  warm.     We'll  come  up  with  'em." 

We  pressed  on  with  renewed  ardor.  Hez  led  the  way  at 
a  slashing  pace,  and  he  never  slackened  his  gait  until  we 
left  the  woods  and  came  upon  a  sandy  plain,  where,  for  the 
first  time,  Rover  seemed  unwilling  to  lead,  and  acted  in  the 
most  unaccountable  manner. 

"  What  is  it,  good  dog  ? "  I  asked,  as  I  came  up. 

He  looked  up  with  a  whine,  and,  when  I  urged  him  forward, 
declined  to  go,  as  though  fearful  of  encountering  some  un- 
known danger.  I  knew  Rover  too  well  not  to  be  aware  that 
something  threatened  us ;  but  what  it  was  I  could  not  im- 
agine, an^  although  my  companions  would  have  pressed  on 
regardless  of  the  hound's  warning,  I  was  not  disposed  to  do 
so,  having  been  taught  to  confide  in  the  animal's  sagacity 
and  fidelity. 

"  What  is  it.  Rover  ? "  I  asked. 

He  looked  up  with  his  bright,  intelligent  eyes,  as  though 
wishing  that  he  could  express  his  thoughts  in  words,  and 
uttered  a  subdued  howl ;  and  at  the  same  time  the  hair  upon 
his  back  began  to  bristle  and  his  tail  to  stiffen,  while  his  lips 
were  drawn  back,  showing  his  white  fangs,  long  and  sharp, 
and  capable  of  doing  good  service  in  a  close  encounter. 

"  Push  on,"  cried  Hackett.  "  The  dog  is  growling  at  his 
own  shadow.  We  can  see  danger  if  any  is  near.  Jist  trust 
to  me,  stranger,  and  you'll  come  out  all  right." 

But  I  knew  better ;  and  it  was  well  for  us  that  T  was  will- 


280  ■  THE    BJSHRANGERS. 

ing  to  trust  to  the  instinct  of  the  hound,  for  hardly  hud 
Hackett  ceased  speaking  when  the  sand,  not  more  than  a 
rod  from  us,  and  directly  across  the  trail,  commenced 
moving,  agitated  like  water  boiling  in  a  huge  pot ;  and 
while  we  looked  on  in  astonishment,  wondering  at  the 
cause,  a  huge,  dark  head,  with  a  circle  of  white  around  the 
neck,  was  thrust  out  of  the  sand,  raised  some  two  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  with  glittering  eyes  and  huge  mouth  com- 
menced hissing  at  us  ;  and  while  the  fiendish  sounds  were 
continued,  a  second  head  was  thrust  out,  and  then  another 
and  another,  until  I  counted  some  twelve  difi'erent  snakes, 
all  of  mammoth  proportions,  and  all  with  white  rings  around 
their  necks,  like  ministerial  neck-ties,  but  more  terrible 
than  any  white  choker  ever  encountered  by  evil-doers  during 
puritanical  days,  when  it  was  unlawful  to  kiss  a  wife  on  Sun- 
day., The  sight  was  not  a  pleasant  one,  and  I  think  that  I 
recoiled  a  few  paces,  still  facing  the  reptiles,  whose  heads 
were  twisting  and  squirming  in  every  direction,  as  though 
attempting  to  obtain  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  gentlemen 
who  had  ventured  to  obtrude  their  presence  upon  such  dis- 
tinguished company ;  and  when  I  add  that  the  movements 
were  all  accompanied  by  shrill  hisses,  each  reptile  using  a 
different  key,  it  will  be  considered  that  the  concert  was  most 
infernal  in  every  respect,  and  one  that  a  man  could  not  listen 
to  for  any  length  of  time  without  going  mad. 

'*  Wal,  if  that  don't  beat  all  that  I  ever  seed  in  Elinise, 
Californy,  or  in  this  blasted  kintry,"  exclaimed  Hackett. 

*'  Nothin'  in  Hillsboro'  county  can  come  up  to  that  for  ug- 
liness," ejaculated  Hopeful,  who  seemed  to  think  that  the 
honor  of  New  Hampshire  required  him  to  utter  some  words 
to  keep  the  state  prominently  before  his  audience. 

"  Darn  me  if  they  ain't  comin'  arter  us,"  cried  Hackett,  in 
a  subdued  whisper;  for  the  scene  was  well  calculated  1o 
affect  the  boldest. 

I  was  so  much  absorbed  in  watching  the  antics  of  th  ? 
snakes,  that  I  did  not  realize  that  they  were  advancing 
towards  me,  with  heads  a  foot  or  more  from  the  sand,  eaca 
black  devil  strivin^j  for'the  lead,  as  though  in  such  compan  / 


SERPENTS   IN   TURSUIT.  281 

there  was  a  post  of  honor  ;  and  very  frightful,  yet  interesting 
they  looked,  as  they  bobbed  their  white,  curved  necks  to  and 
fro,  like  a  flock  of  black  swans  in  search  of  food.  I  could 
not  help  laughing,  the  sight  was  so  novel ;  for  it  did  not 
enter  my  head  that  it  would  be  wise  on  my  part  to  retreat  as 
fast  as  my  legs  would  carry  me.  But  I  was  aroused  from 
this  stupor  —  I  can  call  it  nothing  else — by  the  voice  and 
action  of  Ilackett,  who  probably  comprehended  my  position 
at  a  glance. 

"  Darn  p.e  !  "  I  heard  the  man  say,  "  if  them  'ere  black 
reptiles  ain't  charming  the  cap'n.  They've  got  their  eyes 
on  him,  that's  sure  !  " 

'*  Jerk  him  away,"  cried  Hopeful  ;  ''  he  mustn't  stay 
there.     If  he  does  he'll  be  swamped." 

The  next  instant  I  felt  a  hand  on  my  shoulder.  I  was 
rudely  jerked  back ;  and  then  as  though  some  spell  was  bro- 
ken, I  awakened  to  a  sense  of  my  danger. 

By  this  time  the  snakes  were  within  a  rod  or  two^iof  me, 
and  their  hissing  was  terribly  distinct  —  a  spur  sufficient  to 
make  me  resolve  to  get  away  from  it  as  soon  as  possible ; 
so  I  don't  mind  confessing  that  I  turned  my  back  upon  the 
enemy  and  ran  as  fast  as  possible,  just  looking  over  my 
shoulder,  to  see  if  they  followed  me.  The  brief  glance  that 
I  obtained  showed  that  the  snakes  redoubled  their  exertions 
when  they  saw  me  run. 

"  This  beats  anything  I  ever  heard  of  in  Illinise,"  Hackett 
muttered,  as  he  dashed  along  close  by  my  side,  while  Hope- 
ful was  a  little  in  advance,  where  I  wished  I  was. 

"Can't  we  knock  over  two  or  three  of  the  reptiles  ?'*  I 
Bsked. 

"  I  can  answer  for  some  of  'em,"  returned  Hackett ;  '^  but 
won't  what  remains  tackle  us,  and  give  us  fits  ?  " 

That  was  a  question  I  could  not  answer,  much  as  I  desired 
to.  But  we  soon  had  to  make  a  decision,  or  else  leave  a 
companion  to  his  fate  ;  for  Hez  struck  his  foot  against  a  vine, 
and  plunged  headlong  to  the  ground ;  and  so  severe  was  the 
fall,  that  it  seemed  as  though  the  breath  had  left  his  body, 
n^ver  to  return.     At  the  same  moment  we  turned  a.nd  faced 


IS2  THE  BUSHRANGEK5. 

the  rej^tiles.  Perhaps  they  were  a  little  surprised  at  the 
movement ;  for  I  noticed  that  the  leading  snake  —  the  one 
that  had  held  the  advance  during  the  chase,  a  fellow  more 
than  fifteen  feet  long,  with  a  collar  three  inches  wide,  and 
of  a  dull  cream-color  —  suddenly  relaxed  his  speed,  so  much 
so  that  the  snakes  behind  him  ran  over  his  body  before  they 
could  check  their  headway,  and  a  very  pretty  knot  was  the 
consequence. 

"  Fire  i  "  I  yelled ;  and  although  I  was  so  much  bio  wed 
with  my  run  that  I  could  hardly  hold  my  revolver  in  a  hori- 
zontal position,  I  managed  to  aim  and  discharge  the  pistol 
three  times  in  rapid  succession,  while  Hackett  poured  in  the 
contents  of  his  rifle,  and  Hopeful  struggled  to  his  feet,  and 
did  the  same  with  his  six-barrelled  weapon.  There  was  a 
mighty  flash  of  long  and  flexible  tails,  a  gleaming  of  white 
throats,  dark  streams  of  blood  that  flowed  from  ragged  wounds, 
and,  above  all,  clouds  of  fine  sand  that  soon  enveloped  the 
reptiles,  and  almost  h'  d  them  from  view.  The  sight  was  one 
of  the  most  terrible  that  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of;  and  long 
afterwards  did  it  remain  impressed  upon  my  mind,  so  that 
even  in  my  sleep  I  would  dream  of  the  matter,  and  awaken  to 
find  myself  in  a  cold  perspiration,  and  trembling  in  every  limb. 

We  maintained  our  ground  when  we  found  that  the  rep- 
tiles no  longer  pursued  us,  reloaded  our  weapons,  and 
watched  the  heaving,  struggling  mass,  hissing  and  biting 
each  other,  and  lashing  out  with  their  flexible  tails  like  young 
whales  tortured  by  harpoons. 

"  Blame  me,  if  they  ain't  fightin'  each  other  ! "  exclaimed 
Hez,  who  had  recovered  his  wind  and  good  nature  at  the 
same  time. 

It  did  seem  as  though  such  was  the  case  ;  and  the 
longer  we  regarded  the  struggle  that  was  going  on,  the 
more  convinced  we  were  that  the  reptiles  had  turned  their 
weapons  upon  each  other,  and  were  fighting  among  them- 
selves with  a  ferocity  that  I  never  saw  equalled.  I  suppose 
that  the  snakes  which  were  wounded  imagined  that  their 
companions  had  injured  them,  not  being  aware  of  the  powera 
of  lead  and  gunpowder ;  consequently  they  had  turned  upon 


SERPENTS  IN  PURSUIT.  28Ji 

those  not  hit,  and  attempted  to  retaliate  by  striking  to  the 
right  and  left;  and  when  their  sharp  teeth  did  inflict  a 
wound,  it  was  serious.  The  sight  was  a  wonderful  one, 
and  we  stood  and  looked  at  it,  as  well  as  the  dust  would 
permit  us,  until  the  struggles  in  a  measure  ceased,  and  the 
view  became  less  obstructed.  Then  we  saw  that  most  of  the 
snakes  were  dead,  that  only  the  larger  ones  were  alive, 
and  they  were  desperately  wounded.  One  of  the  reptiles  — 
the  largest  of  the  number,  and  the  fellow  which  had  led  the 
pursuit,  and  shown  the  most  vindictive  rage  —  had  received 
a  large  gash  on  the  white  ribbon  around  his  neck  ;  and  as  the 
thick  blood  trickled  from  the  wound,  and  dyed  the  cravat-like 
mark,  it  resembled  a  throat  that  had  been  cut  with  a  razor. 

'>By  thunder!  but  they  is  suckers,  ain't  they?"  said 
Hackett,  who  now  spoke  for  the  first ^ time.  "Never  did  I 
see  anythin'  in  Elinise  equal  to  that  'ere ;  and  yet  that  state 
can  produce  some  of  the  greatest  sights  of  any  state  in  the 
Union ;  now,  you  had  better  believe." 

"  You  ain't  got  no  snakes  like  them  'ere,  have  you  ? "  asked 
Hopeful,  who  was  jealous  for  the  reputation  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

"  Wal,"  answered  Hackett,  after  a  short  pause,  "  if  we 
ain't  got  'em  as  big,  we've  got  'em  twice  as  furious  ;  now,  I 
tell  you  that ;  and  we  has  got  'em  twice  as  fast.  Some  of 
*em  will  run  as  fast  as  a  horse.  We  has  'em  of  that  kind 
what  will  jist  put  their  tails  in  their  mouths,  and  roll  arter 
you  like  a  hoop ;  and  when  they  strikes  yer  with  that  tail,  yer 
a  gone  sucker,  unless  ye  has  plenty  of  whiskey  to  piiU  at." 

"  That  accounts  for  so  few  of  your  folks  dyin'  from  the 
effects  of  the  reptile*'  bites,"  remarked  Hez. 

"  What  ? " 

"  'Cause  ye  see  every  one  carries  whiskey  in  his  pocket, 
as  though  expectin'  a  snake  bite  ;  "  and  Hcz  laugLed. 

It  was  just  four  o'clock  when  we  entered  a  dark  and  silent 
gorge.  On  each  side  of  us  were  rugged  precipices,  with 
huge  masses  of  rock  almost  suspended  in  the  air,  and  want- 
ing but  a  touch  to  send  them  crashing  into  the  vale.  As  wfl 
picked  our  way  over  the  rocks,  Hackett  remarked,— 


284  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  "Wal,  stranger,  this  ain't  much  of  a  place  for  raisin'  com, 
•sit?" 

"  No,"  returned  Hopeful,  after  a  critical  glance  around; 
*'  but  what  a  place  for  a  water-power  dam  !  See,  you  jist 
throw  it  up  here,  and  you  has  water  enough  to  last  six 
months,  and  power  enough  to  carry  all  the  mills  that  could 
be  jammed  around  the  outside.  What  a  chance  for  a  feller  ! 
Eh,  what's  the  matter  ?     Give  me  that  ? " 

Hopeful's  remarks  were  caused  by  Hackett  suddenly  stoop- 
ing and  picking  up  a  handkerchief  stained  with  blood.  Hea 
sprang  forward,  and  snatched  it  from  his  hand,  and  com- 
menced examining  it. 

"  It's  her  wiper,"  the  young  man  said,  pressing  it  to  his 
lips.  "  See,  here's  the  first  letter  of  her  name.  She's  dead, 
and  that  ugly  cuss  has  killed  her." 

He  uttered  a  howl  of  grief ;  but  Hackett  checked  him  with 
a  few  words. 

"  She's  had  the  nose  bleed,"  the  western  man  said. 
"  Young  women  allers  has  it.  She's  used  it  all  she  wanted, 
and  then  threw  it  away,  and  took  her  apron  and  frock,  like 
the  good  gal  that  she  is.     Thar  ain't  no  use  for  cryin'." 

Under  such  mild  treatment,  Hez  speedily  recovered  his 
composure,  and  was  able  to  follow  in  our  wake.  At  length 
we  reached  the  head  of  the  ravine,  and.  then  turned  to  the 
right  and  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  mountain.  The  path 
which  we  pursued  was  narrow,  and  would  admit  but  one  man 
at  a  time ;  and  the  course  was  most  tortuous,  walled  on  each 
side  with  rocks,  dead  trees,  stunted  palms,  and  balsam  wood. 
While  we  were  slowly  pursuing  our  way.  Rover  suddenly 
recovered  the  scent,  and  dashed  on  ahead  of  us. 

"  We  are  close  to  them,"  J  said.  "  A  few  miles  more  and 
we  shall  have  Amelia  safe." 

At  that  moijient,  some  little  distance  above  us,  we  heard 
the  loud  report  of  some  kind  of  firearm,  and  then  a  bay, 
a  fierce  howl,  as  though  Rover  was  deeply  incensed  at  an 
afiront,  and  wanted  to  get  hold  of  the  person  who  fired 
the  shot. 

"  Was  that  a  rifle  shot  ?  "  I  asked,  turning  to  Hackett. 


A  FIGHT.  285 

I  knew  that  *t  was  not ;  but  I  thought  I  would  strengthen 
my  opinion  with  one  from  a  man  who  was  accustomed  to  all 
kinds  of  firearms. 

"  That  a  rifle  shot !  "  Hackett  repeated  in  disgust.  "  1 
should  think  not.  No  rifle  sounds  like  that.  I'll  bet  a  glass 
of  whiskey  with  any  man  that  a  hoss-pistol  did  that  work." 

I  bounded  up  the  steep  mountain  side,  stumbled  over  a 
piece  of  quartz  that  was  slippery  with  moss  which  clung 
to  its  sides ;  and,  as  I  fell,  a  shot  whizzed  past  me,  and 
struck  a  tree  on  my  right,  cvtting  off  a  small  branch,  and 
dashing  it  into  Hackett's  face. 

"  Wake  snakes  !  "  roared  the  western  man.  "  Hurrah  for 
the  fust  smell  of  powder." 

"  To  cover  !  "  I  cried,  and  sprang  into  the  nearest  clump 
of  bushes,  so  that  I  was  entirely  concealed  from  observation. 

"  Bury  !  "  returned  Hackett,  and  plunged  under  the 
shadow  of  a  tree,  and  took  refuge  behind  its  trunk. 

Then  we  peered  out  and  took  observation,  but  could  see 
nothing  of  our  enemy,  although  it  was  very  probable  that -he 
saw  us  ;  but  if  we  could  not  see  him,  Eover  did,  for  the  dog 
kept  up  a  continual  baying,  and  yet  he  was  but  a  few  feet 
from  us.  I  was  fearful  that  the  hound  would  bring  bush- 
rangers to  the  spot  if  he  continued  his  cries  ;  so  I  called  him 
off.  He  obeyed  m^,  but  still  manifested  a  strong  desire  to 
tear  some  one  with  his  teeth. 

"  Where  is  he.  Rover  ? "  I  whispered,  and  patted  the  dog 
on  his  head. 

He  looked  upward,  and  continued  to  manifest  signs  of 
uneasiness.  I  followed  the  direction  of  his  eyes,  but  could 
Bee  nothing  excepting  a  ledge,  with  thick-leaved  balsam  trees 
on  each  side  ;  and  they  seemed  to  be  just  over  our  heads, 
growing  on  what  appeared  to  be, a  shelf  of  the  mountain. 

"  What  is  it,  old  dog  ? "  I  asked  ;  and  just  then  I  had  a 
most  emphatic  answer  in  the  shape  of  a  pistol  shot,  the  ball 
striking  a  piece  of  quartz  by  my  side,  then  bounding  off 
and  grazing  the  skin  on  Mr.  Hackett's  nose,  causing  that 
earnest  gentleman  to  utter  several  oaths  in  succession. 

In  an  instant  I  rolled  over  and  pretended  to  be  shot ;  but 


286  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

as  I  turned,  I  managed  to  keep  my  eyes  on  the  shelf  over" 
head,  so  that  I  could  note  all  the  movements  that  took  place. 
I  was  repaid  for  my  trouble,  for  as  I  fell  back  and  pressed 
my  hand  on  my  side,  as  though  fatally  wounded,  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  hearing  a  triumphant  laugh  issue  from  the 
thicket  overhead ;  and  the  next  instant  the  repulsive  features 
of  Moloch  were  thrust  through  the  branches  of  the  trees, 
and  he  seemed  to  enjoy  the  appearance  which  I  presented. 

"  Bah  !  you  fools  !  "  cried  the  rascal,  in  a  mocking  tone, 
"  do  yer  think  that  yer  can  take  me  ?  I  vos  too  quick  for 
yer.  Had  yer  come  an  hour  sooner,  yer  might  have  caught 
me  nappin'.  But  now  I  jist  spits  at  yer.  Ah,  fools,  I  has 
the  voman,  and  I  means  to  keep  her." 

I  seldom  miss  with  a  revolver,  especially  when  the  object 
at  which  I  aim  is  within  reasonable  distance ;  but  I  must 
confess  that  I  was  nervous  and  full  of  revengeful  feelings,  or 
perhaps  I  was  too  hasty  ;  for  I  suddenly  raised  my  pistol  and 
fired  at  the  fiend  who  was  grinning  at  me  from  amid  the 
branches  of  the  balsam  trees.  I  missed  the  scoundrel,  and 
yet  I  would  have  given  a  thousand  dollars  to  have  sent  a 
bullet  crushing  through  his  brain,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

"  Ho,  ho  !  yer  didn't  come  it,"  laughed  the  fiend.  "  Vait 
a  minute  and  I'll  make  yer  see  somethin'  that'll  open  yer  eyes." 

He  disappeared,  and  while  he  was  gone  I  changed  posi- 
tion, so  that  he  could  not  single  me  out  for  another  shot,  in 
case  he  desired  to  test  his  old  horse-pistols. 

"  You  ain't  hit,  is  you  ?  "  whispered  Hackett  and  Hopeful 
in  anxious  tones. 

"  No,"  I  answered. 

Before  they  could  congratulate  me,  Moloch,  the  devil,  ap- 
peared, bearing  in  his  arms  the  almost  lifeless  form  of  poor, 
dear  Amelia  Copey,  whose  dress  was  torn  and  soiled,  and 
whose  hair  was  hanging  down  in  tangled  masses,  neglected 
and  uncared  for. 

"  Look !  "  yelled  the  fiend,  in  a  triumphant  tone  ;  '*  'ere*3 
the  gal  vot  I  loves,  and  she  vill  love  me  afore  long,  or  I'D 
know  the  reason  vy." 

A.8  he  spoke  he  held  the  fair  form  in  such  a  mannor  th^^i 


BIOLOCH   AND  HIS  VICTIM.  287 

it  ffe  fired  we  should  be  more  likely  to  injure  the  lady  than 
the  brute  who  clasped  her  in  his  arms. 

"  Darn  me  if  I  stand  that,"  roared  Hackett ;  and  with  re- 
volver in  hand,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  rushed  towards  the 
shelf  on  which  Moloch  stood. 

I  was  aboijt  to  follow  Hackett,  when  I  saw  his  head  dis- 
wppear ;  and  then  T  heard  his  body  strike  among  the  trees 
find  bushes  as  it  fell,  down,  down  the  precipice  on  the  very 
edge  of  which  we  stood,  unconscious  of  our  danger.  I  drew 
back  with  a  shudder,  and  at  the  same  moment  I  heard  a 
mocking  laugh  from  Moloch.  He  had  seen  Hackett  fall,  and 
was  enjoying  the  misfortune. 


CHAPTER  XLHI. 


MOLOCH    AND    HIS    VICTIM. HE   EXPLAINS   MATTERS. liTE- 

GOTIATIONS. FAILURE.^ WE    RAISE    THE    SIEGE. 

Several  times  did  I  raise  my  revolver  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  aim  at  the  rascal ;  but  the  rogue  was  cunning,  and 
sheltered  his  body  with  that  of  the  lady's,  holding  her  form 
before  his  own,  so  that  I  did  not  dare  to  fire  for  fear  of  in- 
juring Amelia ;  and  Moloch  knew  very  well  that  I  was  not 
rash  enough  for  any  such  business  as  that,  much  as  I  might 
desire  vengeance  oii  the  fellow.  The  cowardly  conduct  of 
Moloch  almost  drove  Hopeful  mad ;  and  if  I  had  not  re- 
strained him,  and  kept  him  within  bounds,  he  would  have 
rushed  forward  and  attempted  to  reach  the  cliff  on  which 
the  fellow  stood,  in  defiance  of  the  chasm  just  before  us,  and 
the  huge  horse-pistols  which  he  had  discharged  at  us  and  the 
dog  so  often. 

"  Do  you  see  the  blasted  scoundrel  ? "  cried  Hez,  with 
chattering  teeth  and  flushed  face.  "He's  got  her  in  his 
arms,  and  is  hugging  her  like  all  possessed.  Cuss  him,  how 
I  wish  I  had  my  self-regulating  choke-all  screw  iround  his 
Deck !    I'd  twist  the  life  out  of  him  in  no  time." 


288  "i'HE  BUSHRANGERS. 

'*  Be  calm,"  I  whispered,  in  reply,  although  I  did  not  feel 
calm  by  any  means,  for  I  was  burning  to  revenge  the  poor 
girl's  wrongs. 

"  Calm  ! "  repeated  Hez,  in  a  tone  of  contempt ;  "  how 
can  I  keep  calm  when  that  cuss  is  a  huggin'  and  kissin'  the 
gal,  and  I  never  dared  to  even  touch  her  hand,  much  as  I 
wanted  to  r " 

"  Hush,"  I  said ;  "  Moloch  is  shouting  to  us.  Let  us  hear 
what  he  says." 

"  Vill  yer  listen  to  me  for  a  moment,  yer  Yankee  dogs '  " 

"  Talk  on,  you  British  hound,"  I  responded. 

"  Yell,  I  vill,  but  don't  yer  play  none  of  yer  tricks  on  me, 
*cos  if  yer  does  I  vont  stand  it.  Now  listen,  and  hear  vot  I 
has  for  to  say.     Vill  yer  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  yer  vont  shoot  at  me  ? " 

"  Not  while  you  are  talking  with  us." 

"  Yell,  then  I  vont  bang  at  you ;  so  come  out  of  the  bush, 
and  hear  me." 

We  left  our  places  of  concealment,  so  that  the  rascal 
could  see  us  ;  and  then  for  the  first  time  Amelia  turned  her 
face  and  stretched  out  her  hands  towards  us.  Poor  thing, 
we  could  see  by  her  eyes  how  much  she  had  suffered  during 
the  past  twenty-four  hours.  All  her  little  playful,  coquettish 
airs  were  gone,  and  in  their  place  were  dejection  and  un- 
happiness,  such  as  a  young  girl  feels  when  she  first  meets 
with  trouble. 

*'  0,  Mr.  Jack,"  Amelia  said,  in  trembling  tones ;  and 
then  words  failed  her,  and  she  commenced  crying  as  though 
her  heart  was  broken. 

"  She  is  veeping  for  me,"  grinned  Moloch.  "  She  knows 
that  if  she  don't  mind  her  eye  ve  vill  have  to  part,  she 
goin'  one  way,  and  me  another.  That's  vot  she  knows,  don't 
you,  deary  ?  '* 

"  Tell  the  coves,"  Moloch  continued,  "  how  much  ve  loves 
heach  other,  and  how  ve  intends  to  live  here  on  the  moun- 
tain jist  like  two  blessed  lambs.  That  is,"  the  wretch  con- 
tinued, "  if  she  minds  me  and  cooks  my  mutton  to  a  turn 


MOLOCH  EXPLAINS  MATTERS.  289 

If  she  don*t,  down  a  gulch  she  goes,  and  I  shall  be  left  all 
alone." 

The  fellow  paused  for  a  moment,  took  a  look  at  Amelia's 
face,  clasped  her  still  more  closely  to  his  breast,  as  though 
fearful  that  our  wrath  would  prompt  us  to  fire  at  all  hazards, 
and  kill  him  at  any  risk. 

**  Come,  speak  up,"  the  fiend  cried,  and  gave  her  a  little 
shake  to  enforce  attention.  "  Knock  off  yer  sobbin',  and  tell 
the  coves  that  ye  is  in  love  with  me,  and  means  to  make  me 
'appy." 

*'  I  cannot  speak,"  Amelia  replied.  "  My  words  seem  to 
choke  me." 

"  Yer  vords  vont  choke  yer,  but  I  vill  if  yer  don't  talk  up 
Come,  let's  have  none  of  this  gammon,  or  I'll  pitch  yer  off 
into  the  gorge."  He  made  a  motion  as  though  to  throw  hei 
from  the  shelf;  but  the  girl  clung  to  him  with  desperate  en- 
ergy, as  though  to  prevent  such  a  fearful  fate.  But  *s  Mo- 
loch made  the  motion,  I  glanced  down  the  gorge  over  which 
we  were  standing,  and  then  understood  how  it  happened 
that  Hackett  fell  so  suddenly.  The  edge  of  the  precipice 
was  covered  with  short  brush,  which  concealed  the  danger 
until  a  person  had  entered  it.  Then  a  false  step  would 
be  fatal ;  for  the  gorge,  or  canon,  was  at  least  two  hundred 
feet  deep,  and  appeared  to  have  been  caused  by  some  terri- 
ble convulsion  of  nature  —  some  upheaving  of  the  earth, 
that  rent  the  mountain  asunder,  so  that  the  distance  across, 
from  the  top  of  the  gorge,  where  we  stood,  to  the  other  side, 
where  Moloch  was,  measured  at  least  twenty  feet,  and  could 
only  be  crossed  by  a  bridge  of  some  kind,  so  that  the  cun- 
ning rascal  had  Amelia  completely  in  his  power,  and  we 
could  not  help  ourselves,  although  she  was  almost  within 
our  grasp.  We  were  in  a  peculiar  position,  and  Moloch 
kr.ew  it.  We  could  not  descend  the  gorge,  for  it  was  too 
steep ;  and  if  we  had  made  the  attempt,  we  ran  much  risk 
of  losing  our  lives,  provided  the  bushes  to  which  we  would 
have  to  cling  gave  way.  Even  if  we  had  succeeded  in  de- 
scending, a  more  diflicult  task  was  yet  before  us.  We  would 
have  to  scale  the  opposite  side  —  an  undertaking  of  no  slight 


290  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

account,  when  it  is  understood  that  the  precipice  wus  per- 
pendicular, and  the  brush  upon  the  sides  was  not  of  a 
vigorous  growth.  If  we  retraced  our  steps,  and  ascended 
the  mountain  from  a  different  point,  we  would  still  be  at 
fault,  for  we  might  wander  about  for  days,  and  not  find  Mo- 
loch, even  if  he  did  not  once  more  cross  the  bridge  as  soon 
as  we  left,  and  seek  shelter  at  some  of  the  shepherds'  huts 
which  were  scattered  along  the  plains. 

The  longer  I  pondered  over  the  matter,  the  more  dis- 
couraged I  felt  at  the  task  before  me.  I  think  that  Moloch 
must  have  comprehended  some  of  the  thoughts  that  passed 
through  my  mind,  for  he  grinned  in  a  most  malicious  man- 
ner as  his  eyes  encountered  mine,  and  he  had  the  impudence 
to  shout  out,  — 

"  Veil,  Yankee,  vot  do  yer  think  of  it  ?  Can  yer  fly  ? 
If  yer  can,  yer  can  reach  me ;  if  yer  can't,  jist  valk  back  to 
the  farm  and  tell  old  Smith  that  I  has  the  lass,  and  that  I 
means  to  keep  her  till  I's  tired  of  her.  She  loves  I,  and  I 
loves  her ;  so  ve  means  to  be  'appy  'ere  in  my  kingdom. 
Now  go  back,  or  yer  von't  be  able  to  find  yer  vay  out  of  the 
gulch.  Take  my  vord  for  it,  I  ain't  to  be  reached  by  the 
likes  of  yer." 

"  Listen,  Moloch,"  I  said,  commanding  my  temper  as  well 
as  I  was  able,  so  that  I  could  talk  to  the  scoundrel  in  a  con- 
vincing manner  ;  "  you  know  that  you  are  in  our  power,  as 
well  as  we  know  that  the  girl  is  in  yours."  The  fellow 
uttered  a  shout  of  derision. 

"  Hear  me  patiently,"  I  continued ;  and  the  scoundrel 
seated  himself  on  a  rock,  and  drew  the  struggling  girl  to  his 
lap,  and  held  her  so  that  only  a  small  portion  of  his  head 
was  exposed.  He  was  determined  that  he  would  not  be 
taken  by  surprise.  All  ^is  time  Amelia's  face  was  con- 
cealed in  her  hands,  and  I  could  hear  her  sob ;  and  every 
one  that  she  uttered  went  to  my  heart,  and  almost  un- 
manned me. 

"Drive  on,"  Moloch  said.  "  Say  vot  yer' ve  got  to  say, 
and  don't  be  long  about  it,  'cos  I've  got  to  have  a  little  rest. 
Yer  know  I  vos  up  all  night,  don't  yer  }  " 


NEGOTIATIONS  291 

"  You  know,*'  I  continued,  "  tliat  you  are  in  our  nower  ; 
that  you  can't  leave  the  mountain  without  our  consent. 
We  can  remain  here  on  the  watch,  and  starve  you,  or  else 
compel  yoi^  to  go  into  the  valley  for  food.  Now  dju't  you 
think  that  it  would  be  better  to  give  up  the  girl,  accept  a 
large  sum  of  money  for  so  doing,  and  then  go  where  you 
please,  unmolested  by  any  one  ? " 

"  How  much  money,  Yankee  ?  "  Moloch  demanded. 

"  One  thousand  pounds." 

"  Now  yer  begin  to  talk.  More  money,  Yankee  ;  the  lass 
is  worth  it.  If  yer  loves  her  as  well  as  I  does,  yer  won't 
think  of  a  few  pounds.  I  must  have  somethin'  to  pay  mo 
for  a  broken  heart." 

*'  What  do  you  think,  Hcz  ? "  I  asked.  "  The  fellow  will 
demand  two  thousand  pounds.     Can  we  pay  as  much  ? " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  answered  Hopeful,  eagerly.  "  Three  thou- 
sand, if  he  insists  upon  it ;  any  sum,  so  that  we  get  the  gal 
safe  in  our  power.  She's  worth  all  we  give  for  her.  I'll 
stand  my  share  of  the  blunt ;  now  yer  see  if  I  don't." 

"And  so  will  I,"  was  my  response,  in  a  hearty  manner; 
for  I  felt  a  little  rebuked  at  the  liberality  of  Hopeful,  who 
wanted  to  acquire  a  fortune  in  such  a  short  time. 

**  Wal,"  shouted  Moloch,  with  a  vigorous  squeeze  of  the 
young  girl,  who  still  sat  in  his  lap,  held  there  by  force, 
"  vot  docs  yer  coves  think  about  it  ?  Don't  be  all  day, 
'cos  mo  and  the  lass  has  been  up  all  night,  and  ve  vants  a 
little  rest.  Don't  ve,  ducky?"  and  the  brute  pulled  the 
girl's  head  back  so  that  he  could  obtain  a  view  of  her  fair 
face ;  but  Amelia  struggled  with  him,  and  managed  to  turn 
towards  us. 

"  0,  Mr.  Jack,"  she  cried,  "  if  you  have  the  least  pity  in 
your  heart,  do  save  me.  Pay  the  money,  and  I  will  work 
like  a  sla^e  until  I  give  it  all  back  to  you.  Save  me  from 
this  man,  and  I'll  bless  you  forever  and  ever." 

"  Amen  !  "  cried  Moloch,  with  a  brutal  shout  of  laughter. 
"  Yer  see,  Yankee,  the  lass  ain't  quite  at  home  vid  me ;  but 
she  vill  be  afore  many  days." 

In  reply  Amelia  held  out  her  arms  in  a  beseeching  man* 


292  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

ner,  and  then  her  head  fell,  and  she  appeared  to  have 
fainted.  Hopeful  would  have  raised  his  revolver  and  fired 
if  I  had  not  restrained  him.  He  was  almost  crazy  with 
rage,  and  forgot  all  consideration  or  thought  of  the  danger 
which  the  young  lady  would  incur  in  case  his  hand  trembieti 
and  the  bullet  chanced  to  strike  the  wrong  person.  Quick 
as  the  movement  was,  Moloch  saw  it,  and  took  the  alarm. 

"  You  coves  mean  trickery,"  he  shouted ;  and  he  sprang 
to  his  feet,  and  appeared  disposed  to  beat  a  rapid  retreat. 

"  No,  no,"  I  answered ;  "  you  are  mistaken ;  we  mean 
fair." 

"  If  I  see  any  signs  of  that  'ere  game,"  Moloch  said, 
"  I'll  ji^jt  quit  this  palaver  ;  now  mind  your  eye  if  I  don't." 

We  saw  the  danger  that  we  encountered ;  we  knew  that 
the  devil  who  stood  opposite  to  us,  only  a  little  higher  up, 
would,  in  a  moment  of  rage,  murder  Amelia,  and  then 
chuckle  at  our  grief;  so  I  determined  to  temporize  with  the 
rascal,  and  buy  her  if  possible. 

I  assured  the  fellow  that  we  had  no  thought  of  harming 
him,  and  at  last  calmed  him  so  completely  that  he  once 
more  seated  himself,  and  puUed  the  almost  insensible  girl 
into  his  lap. 

"  Veil,"  he  said,  "  vot  is  it  about  money  ?  Can  yer  talk 
big  about  the  shiners?  The  lass  is  worth  all  yer'll  give 
for  her.  Now,  then,  Yankee,  speak  up  like  a  man,  and  let's 
hear  you." 

"Your  demands  are  excessive,"  I  said;  "but  we  have 
considered  the  young  lady's  situation,  and  are  disposed  to 
bn  liberal." 

"  Vot  do  yer  call  liberal  ? " 

"  One  thousand  nine  hundred  pounds,  all  in  gold,  and  to 
be  paid  you  in  two  days'  time." 

"  It  won't  do,"  was  the  ruffian's  response.  "  I  must  have 
more  dosh.  I  vant  enough  to  last  me  through  life.  Give 
'ae  three  thousand." 

"I'll  see  you  hanged  first,"  I  answered.  "I'd  sooner 
«ross  over  and  take  the  girl  by  force." 

"I'd  like  to  see  yer  do  it,"  was  the  complacent  response 


WE  EAISE  THE  SIEGE.  292 

**  You  know  it  can't  be  did.  I'd  murder  yer  both  afore  ye 
could  do  it.  Go  back  to  the  farm,  get  the  dosh,  and  bring  it 
here.  Then  I'll  let  yer  have  the  lass.  Now  start  yerselves, 
'cos  I'm  sleepy  and  vant  rest." 

He  caught  Amelia  in  his  arms,  and  retreated  to  the 
bush ;  but  as  he  retired  we  could  hear  one  agonizing  scream, 
that  told  of  lost  hope  and  deep  despair  on  the  part  oi 
Amelia.  Then  all  was  quiet,  and  for  a  moment  Ilez  and  I 
stood  looking  at  each  other  with  white  faces  and  trembling 
limbs,  hardly  realizing  all  that  had  passed  before  us,  and 
almost  willing  to  believe  that  we  had  dreamed  what  we  had 
witnessed ;  and  while  we  stood  thus  I  was  surprised  to  see 
tears  trickling  down  Hopeful's  face. 

"  We've  lost  her,"  he  said  ;  "  we  shan't  see  her  no  more.'* 

"  I  think  we  shall,"  I  returned  with  more  confidence  than 
I  felt.     "  She  is  not  lost  to  us." 

"  She  wouldn't  have  been  if  you'd  offered  all  the  money 
the  feller  wanted.  Why  didn't  you  give  him  the  three  thou- 
sand pounds  ?  She's  worth  more'n  that.  You  didn't  want 
her  to  get  clear ;  you  know  it." 

"  Hopeful,"  I  said,  in  l,  faltering  tone,  "  Moloch  would 
have  required  his  three  thousand  pounds  in  hand ;  you 
know  that  we  have  no  money  with  us.  I  did  the  best  that  I 
could  in  negotiating." 

"  I  don't  believe  it,"  he  cried.  "  I  could  have  done  bet- 
ter ;  I  know  that  [  could.  You  didn't  want  the  gal,  'cos  she 
cares  nothin'  abont  you.     I  know  it." 

"  Go  and  see  what  you  can  do  in  the  way  of  a  trade,"  I 
said,  losing  a  little  patience.  "  If  you  can  buy  the  fellow, 
I've  no  objection  to  furnishing  the  money.  Try  him,  and 
don't  waste  time ;  for  we  must  descend  the  mountain,  and 
look  for  poor  Hackett's  body,  and  give  it  suitable  burial. 
We  must  not  leave  it  for  the  wild  dogs  to  feast  on." 

Hopeful  turned  from  me  abruptly,  and  walked  to  the  edge 
of  the  precipice. 

"  Hallo,  you  sir,"  he  said,  in  a  loud  tone.  There  was  nu 
response. 

"  Moloch,  you  rascal,  come  out  and  listen  to  mo." 


294  'XHE    BUSHRANGEKS. 

There  wa,s  a  stir  in  the  bushes  on  the  shelf  opposite  to  iw, 
and  the  next  moment  a  loud  report  and  a  ball  cut  the  air 
close  to  Hez's  head.  As  usual,  Moloch  had  missed  with  In's 
antique  horse-pistol. 

"  Darn  yer,"  growled  the  brute  ;  "  if  jer  wakes  me  up  agir 
ril  hit  yer  harder  next  time." 

Hez  made  a  movement  to  draw  his  revolver ;  but  Moloch 
fcaw  the  motion,  and  dodged  back  to  his  shelter,  out  of  sight, 
and  the  son  of  New  Hampshire  joined  me,  indignant,  but 
remarkably  silent.  I  did  not  utter  a  word  at  the  man's 
failure,  but  commenced  descending  the  mountain,  so  that  I 
could  find  the  gorge  in  which  Hackett's  body  was  lying. 
After  I  found  it,  I  determined  to  renew  my  efforts  at  re- 
covering Amelia,  unless  I  had  to  retreat  on  account  of  the 
want  of  provisions,  our  stock  of  which  was  very  low. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

GLOOMY  PROSPECT. A  BRIGHT  LIGHT. FRIENDS  OR  FOES? 

I  MUST  confess  that  the  prospect  before  us  was  not  promis- 
ing. We  were  miles  from  the  nearest  shepherd's  station^ 
with  but  a  mollPthful  of  food  in  our  pockets,  and  but  a  sup 
or  two  of  brandy  in  our  canteens.  As  far  as  I  was  con- 
cerned, it  did  seem  as  though  I  could  not  walk  five  miles, 
without  a  long  rest,  to  save  my  life  ;  and  I  know  that  Hei 
was  full  as  lame  as  myself,  for  as  soon  as  he  recovered  froir 
ais  passion,  disaj)pointment,  and  vexation,  and  while  we  were 
descending  the  mountains,  he  admitted  that  such  was  the 
case,  and  hinted  that  a  long  halt  was  necessary  on  our  part, 
so  that  he  could  take  some  of  the  stiffness  out  of  his  legs, 
which  he  declared  were  like  ramrods. 

We  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain  an  nour  or  two 
before  sunset,  and  then  commenced  a  search  for  the  gorge. 
Already  were  the  dark  shadows  stealing  along  the  side  of 


GLOOMY  PROSPECT.  295 

the  mountain,  and  shutting  out  the  sunlight  from  v'he  crevice? 
which  we  had  just  left.  We  searched  a  long  time,  or  until 
the  sun  had  entirely  disappeared;  and  then  Hez  found  that 
it  was  useless  to  look  any  further  for  the  gorge  in  which 
Ha!kett's  body  was  lying.  He  threw  himself  down  upon 
the  hot  sand,  through  which  we  had  waded,  and  confessed 
that  he  cc  uld  go  no  farther. 

"I  must  rest,"  he  said,  'umtil  morning,  for  all  life  is  out 
of  me.  If  I  should  even  hear  Amelia's  voice,  I  don't  be- 
licTC  that  I  have  the  strength  to  answer  it.  Poor  girl;  do 
youthinkthatthewretchwi.il  dare  — "  He  did  not  finish 
the  sentence,  for  it  seemed  too  terrible  to  talk  about;  but  as 
he  buried  his  face  in  his  hands,  I  could  hear  him  sob  as 
though  his  heart  was  nearly  broken  at  the  dreary  prospect 
before  the  young  and  handsome  coquettish  girl,  who  had 
stolen  his  heart  in  spite  of  the  claims  which  a  New  Hamp- 
shire beauty  had  upon  it. 

No  sooner  did  daylight  vanish  than  we  felt  the  cold  air 
sweep  down  the  side  of  the  mountain,  attracted  by  the  burn- 
ing sand  which  covered  the  plain.  "We  felt  it,  and  antici- 
pated an  uncomfortable  night ;  but  suddenly  I  recollected 
the  lesson  which  the  serpents  had  taught  me,  and  resolved 
to  follow  their  example.  I  commenced  scraping  away  the 
hot  sand,  scooping  out  a  large  hole  capable  of  holding  our 
bodies.  Hez  watched  roe  at  work,  but  did  not  offer  to  help  until 
he  saw  the  object  which  I  had  in  view,  and  -then  he  lent  a 
willing  hand.  Poor  fellow,  it  was  rather  tough  experieuce 
for  him,  and  I  did  riot  much  blame  him  for  his  low  spirits. 

"  Rover,"  I  said,  "  go  and  find  something  to  eat  and 
drink.     I-ull  a  lamb  if  you  can't  do  better." 

The  brute  understood  me,  for  he  wagged  his  tail  in  token 
of  assent,  and  then  trotted  off,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

"  This  is  no,t  so  bad,  Hez,"  I  remarked,  in  a  cheerful  tone. 

There  was  no  response.  Hopeful  had  forgotten  his  trou- 
bles in  sleep.  I  remained  awake  for  half  an  hour  or  less, 
thinking  of  poor,  dear  Amelia,  and  the  unfortunate  Hackett, 
and  then  I  dropped  off,  and  dreamed  that  I  was  crossing  the 
chasm  on  a  tight  rope,  and  that  Moloch  was  endeavoring  to 


293  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

shake  me  from  the  same,  and  while  I  was  striving  to  hold  on 
he  flung  a  snake  at  my  head.  It  struck  me  on  the  nose,  and 
so  great  was  the  shock  that  I  suddenly  awoke,  aid  found 
something  cold  pressed  against  my  face.  I  started  up,  and 
a  dozen  wild  dogs  scampered  off,  alarmed  at  the  movement 
of  what  they  considered  lawful  prey.  I  once  more  nes- 
tled in  the  sand,  piled  it  around  my  shoulders  as  well  as 
I  was  able,  and  was  asleep  in  less  than  a  minute.  Thia 
time  I  dreamed  that  I  saw  Hackett's  body,  terribly  bruised, 
lying  in  ^.he  gulch,  with  face  dark  and  swollen,  festering  under 
the  hot  sun,  and  that  one  of  the  arms  of  the  corpse  was 
raised,  as  though  to  remind  me  that  I  must  not  forget  to 
inter  the  body  as  soon  as  it  was  found. 

"  I  will  not,"  I  said  ;  and  I  must  have  spoken  in  a  loud 
tone,  for  the  sound  of  my  voice  awoke  me. 

I  started  up,  and  found  Rover  near  my  head,  licking  his 
jowls,  as  though  he  had  feasted,  and  was  indulging  in  the 
remembrance  of  the  same.  As  I  sat  uj),  I  patted  his  head., 
and  glanced  towards  the  mountain.  To  my  surprise,  I  saw, 
not  more  than  a  mile  from  us,  a  bright  fire ;  and  it  appeared 
as  though  I  could  distinguish  forms  moving  around  it.  For 
a  few  minutes  I  sat  and  looked  at  the  unexpected  sight,  so 
as  to  be  certain  that  I  was  not  laboring  under  some  delusion  ; 
and  then  I  punched  Hez  in  his  ribs  —  a  proceeding  that  pro- 
duced an  oath  or  two  on  the  part  of  that  young  man. 

"  Go  to  the  devil,  and  let  me  alone,"  he  said. 

"  You  would  soon  go  to  him  if  I  should  let  you  alone,''  I 
replied,  and  once  more  touched  his  ribs  with  no  light  hand. 

"  What  in  thunder  is  the  matter  ?  "  Hez  asked. 

*'  Clear  your  eyes  of  sand,  and  then  look  under  the  sheltei 
of  the  mountain,"  I  said. 

Hopeful  complied,  but  he  had  slept  so  sound  that  the  effort 
was  rather  a  laborious  one ;  and  half  asleep  as  he  was,  he 
muttered,  "  I  don't  see  nothin'." 

"Will  you  never  awaken?"  I  asked.  "Look,  and  see 
what  is  near  us.     Think  of  Amelia  and  revenge.'* 

In  an  instant  he  had  shaken  off  all  his  drowsiness,  and  was 
lookmg  at  the  fire  with  as  intent  a  gaze  as  myself. 


A  BRIGHT  LIGHT.  297 

"  Wtat  is  it  ? "  he  asked  in  a  whisper,  as  though  fearful 
that  his  voice  would  be  heard  by  those  around  the  fire. 

"  That  is  what  we  must  find  out,"  I  replied.  *'  If  there 
are  bushrangers  around  that  fire,  we  must  avoid  them ;  if 
natives,  hire  them  for  a  few  days  ;  and  if  Moloch  is  there  wa 
must  —  " 

"  Kill  him,"  Hez  cried,  springing  to  his  feet. 

"  Act  cautiously,"  I  said.  "  Eemember  that  we  tread  oi» 
dangerous  ground  —  that  we  are  surrounded  by  enemies, 
and  —  " 

But  Hez  did  not  hear  me.  He  was  walking  towards  the 
fire  at  a  rapid  pace,  and  I  found  that  I  had  as  much  as  1 
could  do  to  keep  up  with  him ;  so  between  restraining  the 
dog  and  my  friend,  I  had  as  much  as  I  could  attend  to  for 
the  first  five  or  ten  minutes  of  our  movement.  A  few  blows 
with  a  strap  brought  E-over  to  his  senses,  and  caused  him  to 
keep  by  my  side ;  and  then  I  darted  forward,  and  seized 
Hopeful  by  his  collar,  and  held  him  fast. 

*'  What  do  yer  mean  ?"  he  demanded,  in  an  angry  tone. 

"  That  I  am  determined  to  save  your  life  and  my  own 
Now,  just  be  guided  by  me.  We  are  near  danger.  I  don't 
want  my  throat  cut  by  a  party  of  bushrangers,  nor  to  be 
knocked  over  by  a  boomerang  from  the  hand  of  an  excited 
native.  We  must  approach  that  fire  cautiously,  and  not  aa 
though  we  had  a  regiment  of  traps  at  our  back.  Be  guided 
by  me." 

The  distance  was  too  great  to  distinguish  the  party  clus- 
tered around  the  fire.  Neither  could  we  hear  the  sound  of 
their  voices ;  so  we  loosened  our  revolvers,  saw  that  they 
were  capped,  that  our  bowie-knives  were  handy,  and  then 
dropped  on  our  hands  and  knees,  and  crawled  towards  tlie 
fire.  By  and  by  Hopeful  put  his  mouth  close  to  my  ear,  and 
whispered, — 

"Bushrangers,  sartin  —  I  know  it." 

"  How  do  you  know  it  ? " 

"  'Cos  one  does  all  the  talkin*  and  swearin'.  You  don't 
^^ea*"  but  one  voice.     Listen." 

I  4id  listen,  and  was  so  much  interest ?d  that  I  concluded 


298  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

to  crawl  1  earer  the  fire  and  examine  the  face  of  the  man  who 
talked  S3  mach,  and  to  whom  th«  others  listened  so  respect- 
fully. It  was  not  a  bushranging  custom.  Men  of  the  bush 
had  but  little  respect  for  each  other,  and  were  not  fond  of 
what  they  called  "blab." 

I  waited  patiently  for  ten  minutes  ;  and  then  a  particle  of 
sand  got  into  my  nostrils,  and  caused  me  to  sneeze. 

"■\Yhat  in  the  devil's  name  is  that?"  cried  the  voice, 
\?hich  somehow  sounded  familiar  to  me. 

I  saw  two  or  three  forms  rise  from  the  ground,  and  glance 
around,  while  at  the  same  time  some  one  stirred  the  fire, 
and  a  bright  flame  started  up.  By  its  light  I  saw  that  the 
men  were  Australian  natives,  and  that  they  were  armed  with 
spears  and  boomerangs. 

"  Squat  down,  you  black  fellers,*'  some  one  cried  in  Eng- 
lish. "  Don't  you  be  afeard  as  long  as  I'm  here.  Down  with 
yer,  and  let's  have  another  slice  of  kangaroo." 

'*  Here,  you  black  imp,"  the  voice  said,  after  the  natives 
were  seated,  "  cut  me  off  a  big  junk  of  meat,  and  then  pass 
the  cofi'ee.  Ah  !  don't  put  yer  dirty  mugs  in  it  afore  I'm 
done.     White  men  first,  the  world  over." 

I  could  not  be  mistaken  —  that  was  surely  the  voice  of 
Hackett,  my  Illinois  friend.  And  he  seemed  remarkably 
lively,  just  as  though  he  had  not  fallen  from  a  three  hundred 
feet  precipice,  broken  his  limbs,  and  generally  disarranged 
his  system. 

"  It's  him  or  the  devil,"  muttered  Hez. 

"  Elinois,  aho  !  "  I  roared,  making  a  speaking-trumpet  of 
my  hands. 

"  Hello  !  "  was  the  instant  response. 

*'  Is  that  you  or  your  ghost  ?  " 

"Me,  a-stuffin'  of  kangaroo  meat  and  coffee.  Heava 
ahead,  and  have  some." 

We  rushed  towards  the  fire,  and  there  saw  Hackett,  the 
man  whom  we  supposed  dead,  seated  on  the  sand,  roasting 
meat  and  driBking  coffee,  and  surrounding  him  were  a  dozen 
natives. 

"  'jlad  to  see  yer,  old  feUer,"   cried  Hackett,  as  we  shDols 


FRIENDS  OR   FOES?  299 

hands.     "Knew  I  should  come  across  yer  scmtwhai  afore 
long." 

"  Why,  we  supposed  you  dead,"  I  remarked. 

'*  Dead  be  darned.  ^\Tiat  in  thunder  should  kill  me,  I 
etonld  like  to  know  ? " 

"  The  fall  from  the  precipice,  to  be  sure." 

"Yes,  I  went  over ;  but  that's  no  reason  why  I  should 
knock  my  brains  out,  is  it  ?  " 

I  saw  that  Hackett  was  determined  to  take  his  own  time  in 
relating  his  experiences  ;  so,  as  we  were  hungry,  we  brushed 
the  natives  aside,  and  sat  down  near  the  fire,  first  helping 
ourselves  to  a  junk  of  kangaroo  flesh. 

"Help  yerselves,"  cried  Hackett,  who  had  lighted  his  pipe, 
and  approved  of  our  actions  with  a  nod. 

"  Tell  us  your  experience,"  I  said. 

"  Wal,  'tain't  much,  now  I've  goij^e  through  with  it ;  and  al- 
though I'm  a  little  sore,  I  ain't  got  no  limbs  broke.  I  made 
one  of  these  nigs  rub  me  down  with  kangaroo  fat,  and  I 
think  it's  took  some  of  the  soreness  out  of  me.  That's  the 
worst  hit  what  I  got." 

As  he  spoke  he  stripped  up  the  leg  of  his  trousers,  and 
exhibited  a  shocking  bruise,  one  nearly  a  foot  long,  and 
black  and  blue. 

"  Come  here,  you  black  cuss,  and  rub  it.  Kinder  begins 
to  feel  a  little  stiff,  like." 

The  native  understood  more  by  motion  than  he  did  by 
words.  He  commenced  rubbing  the  bruised  part  with  a 
cuxciol  hand,  and  then  Hackett  finished  the  account  of  his 
adventures. 

"  Ye  see,  when  the  British  cuss,  the  one  what  had  the  gal 
in  his  arms,  kinder  got  me  riled,  and  I  jist  mads  a  rush  for 
him,  and  that's  whar  I  made  a  mistake.  I  had  ought  to  have 
played  Injun ;  but  ye  see  I  didn't,  and  I  suffered  for  it.  The 
fust  thing '  I  knowed,  I  was  a  goin'  down  that  gorge  head 
fust ;  and  then  the  next  thing  I  felt  was,  that  I  struck  a  tree, 
and  bounded  off  to  another  one.  I  caught  at  that,  but  it  was 
no  go.  On  I  went,  like  an  express  train  ;  and  then  I  slipped 
from  tree  to  tree,  and  at  last  landed  in  the  centre  of  some 


500  THE   BUSHRANGERS 

bushes ;  and  thar  I  laid  for  a  while,  wonderin'  if  I  was  in 
heaven  or  on  'arth ;  for  it  didn't  seem  as  though  I  had  much 
breath  in  me  jist  then.  I  kinder  think  I  went  to  sleep,  for 
I  didn't  know  much  for  some  time  ;  and  when  I  woke  up,  it 
took  me  half  an  hour  to  move  and  get  out  of  the  bush,  whar 
I  was  lodged  pretty  fast." 

"  Why  didn't  you  call  for  help  ?  "  I  demanded. 

"  What  for  ?  Didn't  I  know  you  was  busy,  and  that  the 
gal  was  of  more  importance  than  me?"  He  then  con- 
tinued :  — 

"  I  waited  a  little  while,  and  then  I  began  to  pick  ray  way 
out  of  the  gorge.  I  was  some  time  a  doin'  it,  but  I  seemed 
to  get  strength  as  I  moved  along,  and  at  last  I  found  the 
plain  ;  and  then  who  should  I  meet  but  these  black  cusses ! 
When  they  seed  me,  they  would  have  cut,  but  I  stopped  'em 
by  jist  pintin'  my  rifle ;  and  then  I  made  'em  build  a  fire 
while  I  knocked  over  a  kangaroo  that  came  near  us.  And 
that's  the  end  of  my  yarn." 

I  did  not  ask  any  questions,  because  just  at  that  moment 
the  Illinois  gentleman  was  writhing  under  the  influence  of 
pain,  the  native  using  the  palm  of  his  hand  in  an  active 
manner,  in  attempting  to  reduce  the  swelling  which  disfig- 
ured the  poor  fellow's  leg. 

"  Yes,"  said  Hackett,  as  soon  as  he  could  speak,  "  I  must 
use  that  leg  to-morrow,  'cos  if  I  did  tumble  it  was  for  a  good 
purpose.  While  I  was  down  in  that  'ere  gorge,  I  jist  saw  a 
trail  what  will  take  us  right  up  to  the  Britisher.  Thar's  no 
mistake  about  it.     I  seed  it  with  my  own  eyes." 

Hopeful  started  to  his  feet. 

"  Let's  go  for  that  trail  now,"  he  said.  "  Perhaps  we  caD 
find  Amelia  to-night." 

"  You'd  have  sharp  eyes,  then,  let  me  tell  yer.  We  uiust 
wait  till  daylight." 

We  went  to  sleep,  and  did  not  awaken  until  aroused  by 
the  roar  of  Hopeful,  a  sand  bug  having  fastened  to  his  leg, 
and  he  labored  under  the  impression  that  a  snake  was 
biting  him. 


ON  THE  TRAIL.  301 


CHAPTER   XLV. 

OS    THE    TKAIL. A  YOUNG   GIKL's  DISTRESS.  - —  .4    BtJFFlAN  8 

THREATS. FORWARD    TO    THE    RESCUE. 

Our  friend  was  too  seriously  bruised  to  think  of  walking. 
His  leg  piesented  such  an  appearance  of  discoloration  that  1 
seriously  feared  he  would  lose  it,  unless  he  had  medical 
treatment.  I  took  what  little  brandy  I  had  left,  and  rubbed 
the  limb  as  gently  as  possible,  for  each  touch  of  my  hand 
caused  him  intense  pain,  although  the  poor  fellow  declared 
that  it  was  a  waste  of  good  liquor,  and  that  it  would  do  him 
much  more  good  if  taken  internally.  And  the  natives 
seemed  to  think  the  same  thing ;  but  they  had  a  slight  dif- 
ference of  opinion  as  to  who  should  imbibe  it.  They  con- 
tended that  their  stomachs  were  well  calculated  for  a  dose, 
and  Hackett  thought  the  same  thing,  and  begged  me  to  give 
him  just  a  wine-glass  full ;  and  so  urgent  were  his  entrea- 
ties, that  I  consented. 

As  Hackett  raised  the  canteen  to  his  lips,  the  natives  ut- 
tered a  howl  and  danced  around  him,  the  victims  of  despair. 
But  we  calmed  them  with  promises  and  threats  ;  and  then 
I  suggested  that  Hackett  should  mount  on  the  shoulders  of 
one  of  the  blacks  and  accompany  us  to  the  gorge,  so  that  he 
could  show  us  the  trail  which  led  to  the  mountain.  In  this 
position  our  western  friend  could  move  without  much  pain 
or  trouble.  It  was  tough  on  the  natives,  but  their  reward 
was  to  come ;  so  we  did  not  spare  their  feelings  as  much  as 
we  might  have  done.  With  some  little  trouble  we  made  the 
blacks  comprehend  what  we  wanted,  and  then  mounted 
Hackett  on  the  shoulders  of  the  stoutest  man  of  the  party ; 
and  as  the  western  gentleman  clasped  his  arms  around  the 
neck  of  the  fellow  who  bore  him,  he  remarked,  — 

"  This  'ere  cuss  won't  run  as  long  as  I'm  on  his  back, 
Vou  see  if  he   does.      Now,  then,  go    ahead,   old    fellow 


j02  THE  BUSHRANGERS, 

We  has  no  time  to  lose  if  we  wants  to  breakfast  vdth  the 
pung  lady." 

Our  course  was  blocked  with  stones,  mounds  of  earth, 
and  trunks  of  dead  trees,  which  had  been  washed  from  the 
mountain  side  during  the  winter  rains,  and  then  lodged  in 
che  gbrge  until  the  next  spring  freshet  drove  them  to  the 
plains,  where  the  sand,  wood,  and  stones  mingled,  and  in  the 
couri  e  of  time  formed  soil  suitable  for  the  growth  of  sucL 
grass  as  sheep  and  cattle  feed  upon  when  nothing  better  is 
to  be  obtained.  Here  the  natives  had  hard  work,  as  they 
were  compelled  to  spell  each  other  very  often,  their  load 
was  so  heavy,  and  the  road  was  so  rough.  More  than  once 
[  caught  the  rascals  looking  over  their  shoulders,  as  though 
ihej  were  disposed  to  run  for  it ;  but  a  touch  of  my  re- 
volver changed  their  minds,  and  they  would  do  the  best  they 
could  to  carry  Hackett  over  the  route. 

"  Dump  me  here,"  said  Hackett,  after  we  had  penetrated 
the  ravine  about  a  mile,  and  the  difficulties  of  locomotion 
steadily  increased. 

"  Curse  the  leg,"  he  said,  as  we  laid  him  down  on  some 
sand,  the  softest  place  that  we  could  find ;  "  how  it  doea 
jump  !  just  as  I  want  to  use  it,  too." 

We  offered  to  rub  it,  but  the  man  declined. 

*' You  ain't  got  no  time,"  he  said.  "  You  must  start  on 
the  trail ;  thar  it  is,  close  to  them  bushes.  You  can't  see  it 
unless  you  pull  'em  apart.  It  is  jist  opposite  whar  I  come 
over.  That's  the  tree  I  lighted  on.  Kinder  shook  me  up» 
didn't  it  ?  Now,  then,  jist  pick  yer  way  up  that  trail,  and 
you'll  find  the  gal  and  the  Britisher.  But  be  kinder  keer- 
ful  how  you  go,  'cos  the  bushes  is  thick  and  the  path  narrer. 
Leave  me  here  ;  I'll  look  arter  the  natives,  and  see  that 
they  don't  cut  stick.  Take  care  of  yerselves,  and  come 
back  as  soon  as  possible,  'cos  I  shall  feel  kinder  lonesome, 
with  no  one  to  talk  to  but  these  black  fellers,  and  they  can't 
understand  me  much." 

It  was  rather  ticklish  work,  walking  up  the  side  of  that 
mountain,  unable  to  see  if  enemies  lurked  on  either  side. 
There  were  some  points  in  our  favor,  which  we  were  to 


ON   THK   TRAIL.  303 

make  the  most  of.  '  Molocli  would  not  suspect  our  presence, 
and  therefore  would  not  be  on  the  watch.  He  would  not 
have  the  least  idea  that  we  were  so  near  him,  and  unless 
he  had  friends  we  could  count  on  an  easy  victory.  All  was 
quiet  as  we  worked  our  way  along,  and  after  an  hour's  toil 
we  suddenly  left  the  trail  and  the  bushes  on  each  side,  ana 
found  that  we  were  close  to  the  rock  on  which  Moloch  had 
defied  us  the  day  before. 

*  Down  ! "  I  whispered;  and  at  the  word  Hopeful  and 
myself  dropped  to  the  earth,  and  crawled  behind  a  clump  cf 
bushes,  where  we  could  not  be  seen  unless  some  one  was 
close  to  us. 

"  The  villain  is  near  us,"  I  said.     "  Perhaps  he  is  asleep.' 

*'  And  p'haps  he's  watching  us,'"  suggested  Hopeful. 

As  I  had  no  facts  that  such  was  not  the  case,  I  remained 
silent,  and  listened. 

"  Let  the  dog  lead  us  to  'em,"  remarked  Hopeful ;  "  il 
will  save  time." 

I  called  Rover  to  my  side,  and  told  him  what  I  wanted , 
and  I  spoke  just  as  though  I  was  addressing  a  human  being 
with  good  reasoning  powers.  The  brute  understood  me, 
and  with  his  head  to  the  earth  he  walked  slowly  on  towards 
a  grove  of  palm  trees,  that  stood  just  above  us  on  an  ele- 
vated part  of  the  mountain.  We  followed  him  on  our  hands 
and  knees,  sheltering  ourselves  as  well  as  we  were  able, 
and,  after  some  moments  of  excessive  toil,  gained  the  edge 
of  the  wood,  and  found  Rover  lying  down  and  awaiting  us, 
with  an  expression  upon  his  intelligent  face  that  seemed  to 
convey  a  great  deal  of  meaning. 

"  What  is  it,  good  dog  ? "  I  whispered. 

He  manifested  an  inclination  to  bound  forward,  and  by 
the  bristling  of  his  hair  I  knew  that  an  enemy  was  near. 

i  kept  him  back  by  a  motion  of  my  hand,  and  then  crawled 
lOrward  until  I  suddenly  stopped  to  listen  to  a  sound  that 
was  strange  to  my  ears.     It  was  a  woman  weeping. 

I  changed  my  position,  moving  a  little  to  the  left,  so  that 
I  could  remain  sheltered  by  the  bushes,  and  yet  see  all  that 
was  going   on  just  ahead  of  me.     The  advantage   of  thia 


<04  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

movement  was  soon  apparent;  for  while  we  were  winder. 
ing  if  tli0  5e  sobs  came  from  Amelia,  we  lieard  the  harsh 
voice  of  Moloch. 

"  Vill  yer  stop  that  'ere  snufflin'  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Docs  yer 
s*pose  I  can  'joy  my  breakfast  ven  yer  is  makin'  that  kiucl 
of  noise  ? " 

The  only  response  to  this  was  a  fresh  torrent  of  tears  and 
sobs.     Hopeful  began  to  look  wild. 

I  found  that  it  was  only  by  a  powerful  effort  that  I  could 
c:mmand  my  feelings.  But  I  remembered  the  fate  which 
the  abductor  deserved ;  so  I  replaced  my  revolver,  and  de- 
termined to  wait,  and  learn  as  much  as  possible  before  we 
acted. 

The  sobbing  continued.  I  could  not  see  the  young  lady, 
neither  could  I  see  Moloch.  They  happened  to  be  behind  a 
bush  that  stood  just  in  front  of  us.     We  continued  to  listen. 

"  Vill  yer  stop  that  'ere  ? "  the  brute  asked.  "  Vot  is 
the  use  of  yer  makin'  that  noise  ?  It  von't  do  yer  no  kind 
of  ■  good,  and  yer  knows  it ;  yer  only  hurts  yerself  for 
nothin'.  I  don't  vant  a  vife  vot  has  red  eyes  all  the  time  — 
does  yer  s'pose  I  does  ? " 

"  0,  take  me  home  ! "  we  heard  the  poor  girl  exclaim. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  has  yer  fast,  and  I 
means  to  keep  yer." 

Here  the  ruffian  chuckled  in  an  audible  manner,  and  the 
sobbing  was  renewed. 

"  Yer  didn't  think  yer'd  have  me  for  a  husband,  did  yer," 
the  wretch  cried,  "  ven  yer  used  to  turn  up  your  nose  at  me  ?  *' 

A  fresh  volley  of  sobs  and  cries  was  the  only  response, 
and  that  seemed  to  provoke  Moloch. 

"  Don't  I  tell  yer  that  I  vill  marry  yer  some  time  if  yer 
is  good  and  minds  me  ?  Vot  more  does  yer  vant  ?  Jist 
make  the  most  of  it,  'cos  thar's  no  one  to  help  yer.  The 
poor  coves  vot  follered  us  has  gone  home,  'cos  they  knowed 
they  couldn't  reach  me  ;  so  now  vot  has  yer  to  hope  for  ?  " 

"Nothing  but  Grod's  mercy,"  was  the  almost  inaudible 
response. 

"  Veil,  that  maj  do  for  another  vorld,  but  it  von't  do  foi 


A  RUFFIAN'S  THREAT.  305 

this ;  so  jist  put  yer  trust  in  me,  and  I'll  treat  yer  kindly  dll 
r  gets  ready  to  sell  yer  to  some  of  my  bushranging  chums." 

At  this  threat  the  poor  girl  renewed  her  lamentations,  and 
in  such  a  loud  tone  that  Moloch  was  enraged 

"If  yer  don't  sop  that  I'll  jist  lay  hands  on  yer,"  he 
said ;  and  we  could  hear  the  fellow  walk  towards  her. 

While  he  was  moving,  we  shifted  our  position,  and  man- 
aged to  obtain  a  view  of  the  parties.  I  saw  Amelia,  her 
dress  torn,  her  hair  down  over  her  shoulders,  lying  upon  a 
bed  of  leaves  in  an  arbor-shaped  hut  constructed  of  trees 
and  branches.  This  was  the  place  which  Moloch  or  some 
one  else  had  prepared  with  some  little  patience.  By  the 
time  the  wretch  had  reached  the  girl,  we  were  enabled  to 
gain  our  new  position,  and  see  all  that  transpired.  He  laid 
his  hand  upon  her  shoulder,  not  in  a  gentle  manner,  and 
raised  her  to  a  sitting  position. 

'*  Stand  up,"  he  said ;  '*  I  vant  to  talk  to  yer.  Now,  if  yer 
don't  jist  shut  up,  and  smile  on  me,  and  kiss  me  when  I  vants 
yer  to,  yer  vill  go  over  the  bank,  and  never  know  vot  hurt 
yer.     Do  yer  hear  ? " 

He  shook  her  in  a  fierce  manner,  as  though  he  had  lost  all 
patience  with  her,  but  the  next  moment  softened,  for  when 
she  turned  her  eyes  upon  the  man,  he  spoke  more  gently. 

"  Come,  be  a  good  lass,  and  love  me,  and  then  I'U  treat 
yer  veil." 

"  Love  a  wretch  like  you ! "  she  cried.  "  No  !  I  hate 
you !  and  if  it  were  possible  to  give  you  to  the  hangman,  I 
would  do  so." 

She  spoke  as  though  her  wrongs  had  made  her  desperate, 
and  reckless  to  her  fate.  For  one  moment  the  scoundrel 
quailed  before  her;  but  the  next  instant  he  sprang  for- 
ward with  his  huge,  black  fist  upraised,  as  though  to  strike 
her  to  the  earth ;  and  he  would  have  done  so,  if  I  had  not 
spoken  to  the  dog  just  in  time  to  save  her.  With  a  growl 
that  sounded  savage  and  threatening,  Rover  bounded 
over  the  bushes,  towards  Moloch,  while  Hopeful  and  I 
followed  the  animal,  pushing  on  through  the  brush  as 
f^st  as    possible,    and    with    such    success    that    we    wen 


306  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

close  upon  his  heels,  when  the  rascal,  who  was  threatening 
Amelia,  turned,  his  attention  being  attracted  by  the  noise 
which  we  made.  He  saw  us,  and  comprehended  all  at  a 
glance.  His  hand  sought  the  handle  of  his  heavy  knife  ;  and 
if  the  hound  had  not  been  close  to  him,  he  would  have  beea 
enabled  to  draw  it,  and  we  should  have  had  to  content  our- 
selves with  simply  shooting  the  villain,  which  we  did  not 
want  to  do,  such  a  death  being  too  easy  for  crimes  such  a3 
he  had  committed.  The  dog  was  too  quick  for  him.  He 
went  over  the  bushes  at  a  flying  leap,  just  touched  the 
ground,  and  then  bounded  forward  straight  at  the  throat  of 
the  shepherd,  whose  right  hand  was  on  the  hilt  of  his  knife. 
The  fellow  saw  that  he  would  not  have  time  to  draw  it ;  so  he 
suddenly  adopted  a  new  plan.  He  thought  that  the  dog  would 
not  attack  a  person  who  was  well  known  ;  so  he  managed  to 
stammer  out :  — 

"  Good  doggy." 

He  had  no  chance  to  utter  more.  The  hound  did  not  ap- 
preciate his  endearments,  for  the  noble  animal  dashed  at 
the  man's  throat,  and  down  he  went. 

"  Take  him  off,"  the  scoundrel  yelled  ;  and  then  we  broke 
through  the  brush,  and  stood  before  the  half-distracted  girl 
and  the  struggling,  groaning,  panting  Moloch. 

"  Saved  !  saved  !  "  cried  Amelia  ;  and  down  she  tumbled 
upon  her  knees,  and  up  went  her  hands,  raised  towards 
heaven  in  token  of  gratitude  to  Him  who  had  directed  our 
steps,  and  sustained  us  during  all  our  hardships  and  troubles. 

"  Take  the  brute  off,  vill  ye  ? "  roared  Moloch,  who  saw 
us,  and  desired  aid  even  at  our  hands. 

*'  Which  one  is  the  brute  ? "  asked  Hopeful,  who  really 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  sight  before  him. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  devil,  take  off  the  dog !  "  howled 
Moloch,  who  still  struggled  with  the  hound. 

"  In  one  moment,"  I  said ;  and  then,  stooping  down,  I 
removed  the  knife  from  his  belt,  so  that  he  could  not  use  it. 

"  Now  don't  you  move,"  I  remarked.  "  If  you  do  it  will 
be  ail  the  worse  for  you.     Release  him,  good  dog." 

The  hound  let  go  his  hold,  and  the  instant  he  did  so.  Mo- 


ON   THE   MOUNTAIN.  307 

foch  struck  liim  with  liis  clinched  fist.  The  animal  avenged 
the  insult  in  a  savage  manner,  for  with  one  snap  of  his 
mighty  jaws,  he  tore  a  huge  piece  of  flesh  from  the  rascal's 
face,  causing  it  to  present  a  most  shocking  spectacle,  for  the 
blood  spurted  out  and  dyed  his  red  beard  and  breast  on6 
mass  of  carmine.  The  fellow  uttered  some  frightful  curses, 
but  I  did  not  heed  them ;  and  then  without  opposition  I 
strapped  his  arms  behind  his  back,  secured  him  so  that  he 
could  not  run  away,  or  do  any  mischief,  and  then  turned  to- 
wards  the  lady,  whom  I  found  on  the  ground,  and  once  more 
weeping  most  bitterly. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

01*    THE    MOUNTAIN.  AMELIa's    GEIEF. SHE    DEMANDS 

VENGEANCE. PKEPARATIONS    FOR    HANGING. 

It  was  a  great  triumph  to  stand  over  such  a  scoundrel  as 
Moloch,  and  know  that  he  was  a  prisoner,  and  was  like  to 
be  punished  as  his  crimes  deserved.  When  I  left  Smith's 
station  I  had  pledged  my  word  to  return  with  Amelia  — 
to  save  her,  if  such  a  thing  was  possible ;  and  now,  when 
I  looked  at  the  villain,  as  he  was  lying  at  my  feet,  securely 
b.^und,  I  could  not  help  feeling  that  I  had  sustained,  in  a 
n^^asure,  the  reputation  which  I  had  enjoyed,  and  which  I  was 
sr  anxious  to  maintain  during  my  residence  in  Australia,  simply 
because  I  desired  to  show  the  pig-headed  Englishmen  that 
Americans  were  full  as  clever  as  themselves  in  alJ  that 
makes  a  man  adventurous  and  noble. 

Of  course  Moloch's  tongue  was  not  idle  while  I  was  tying 
him.  He  blasphemed  in  the  most  outrageous  manner,  and 
Bv,  ore  that  we  did  not  dare  to  give  him  fair  play  in  a  free 
fig  it — -just  as  though  such  a  wretch  was  capable  of  compre- 
he)  ding  anything  that  was  just  or  honest. 

'  If  my  hand  hadn't  viggled,"  he  cried,  "  I'd  have  popped 
yei   >ver  the  mnrnin'  arter  I  was  turned  out  of  the  house. 


SOS  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

I  came  near  puttin'  a  ball  througli  yer  head,  and  I'm  sorry 
T  didn't.     Cuss  yer  for  a  downey  cove." 

The  ruffian  ki  iked  at  me  with  his  heavy  shoes ;  but  the 
I/low  fell  short,  luckily  for  me,  for  the  brogans  were  armed 
with  iron  nails  of  monstrous  size,  and  if  he  had  touched  my 
skin  I  should  have  been  lamed  for  some  days. 

Rover  understood  the  movement  as  a  challenge,  and  he  did 
not  fail  to  accept  it.  He  dashed  at  the  prostrate  ruffian, 
gave  him  a  severe  nip,  and  then  looked  at  me,  as  though 
waiting  for  commendation  for  the  act. 

"  Do  yer  want  the  dog  to  murder  me  ? "  asked  Moloch, 
with  some  manifestations  of  alarm. 

"  I  don't  care  what  he  does  to  you,"  was  my  answer ;  and 
then  I  turned  towards  Amelia,  who  was  seated  on  the  ground, 
her  face  covered  with  her  long,  thick  hair,  as  though  to  shut 
from  her  sight  the  presence  of  two  of  her  best  friends,  or 
as  if  the  light  of  day  was  hateful  to  her. 

The  stockman  continued  his  abuse  until  it  was  so  bad  that 
Hez  stopped  his  mouth  with  a  stick,  putting  it  in  until  the 
fellow's  tongue  was  forced  aside,  and  incapable  of  movement. 
Then  Hopeful  compelled  him  to  rise,  and  move  down  the 
trail  to  the  gulch,  where  Hackett  was  awaiting  ijs,  leaving 
Amelia  and  me  alone. 

"  Come,  Amelia,"  I  said,  "  summon  all  your  resolution, 
dry  your  tears,  and  be  prepared  to  meet  the  world  with 
calmness,  if  not  with  happiness.  You  are  saved,  your  life 
is  spared,  and  yon  have  so  much  to  be  thankful  for  that  your 
present  despondency  should  not  be  lasting." 

She  clung  to  me  closely  as  I  spoke ;  but  she  did  not  look 
up,  nor  cease  to  sob.  Her  face  was  buried  in  my  bosom, 
and  still  covered  with  her  long  hair,  once  so  bright  and 
shining,  and  in  which  she  took  so  much  pride  when  1  first 
knew  her,  in  her  coquettish  days,  when  life  seemed  full  of 
pl"asure,  and  was  of  a  rosy  hue. 

"  Death  would  have  been  better  than  this  disgrace,"  she 
managed  to  murmur ;  and  then  she  broke  down,  and  com- 
menced moaning,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  I  could  calm 
bet  so  that  she  was  prepared  to  listen  to  reason. 


AMELIA'S   GRIEF.  309 

"*  0  God  !  "  she  said,  at  length,  "  how  can  I  return  home 
»nd  meet  my  relatives,  with  this  terrible  disgrace  hanging 
over  me  ?     I  shall  die  with  grief." 

*'  Grief  seldom  kills,  and  there  are  many  days  of  happi- 
ness in  store  for  you.  Come,  let  us  return  to  your  friends, 
whom  you  will  meet  and  inform  that  your  injuries  are 
avenged,  that  death  has  settled  the  account." 

"  You  promise  me  that  he  shall  die  ? "  she  asked,  in  ah 
eager  tone. 

"  I  promise.  If  you  wish  to  witness  his  fate,  you  shall. 
You  can  feast  your  eyes  on  his  last  struggles,  and  think  how 
dearly  the  wretch  paid  for  the  outrages  he  committed." 

Then,  for  the  first  time,  she  brushed  back  the  hair  that 
had  concealed  her  face,  and  I  was  enabled  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  her  eyes,  swollen  and  red  with  weeping.  How  different 
she  looked  from  the  time  when  she  had  "made  mouths"  at 
me,  because  I  had  crossed  some  of  her  whims,  or  laughed  at 
some  of  her  vanities  —  girl-like  and  innocent,  but  still  suf- 
ficient to  cause  me  to  smile  and  ridicule  what  I  really  liked. 

"  You  —  you  —  will  tell  sister  that  I  did  not  come  —  come 
here  —  here  of  my  own  accord  ?"  she  asked  in  a  low  whis- 
per. 

"  Why,  of  course  she  knows  that  such  is  the  case.  We 
all  know  that  the  villain  forced  you  to  go  with  him.  They 
all  understood  that  before  I  left  your  home.  You  need  not 
fear  but  that  your  reception  will  be  all  you  can  desire,  cordial 
and  tender." 

"  0,  I  have  suffered  so  much  !  "  she  moaned.  "  It  ssems 
as  though  I  had  grown  old  within  the  last  two  days." 

"  But  in  a  short  time  your  sufferings  will  cease.  Make  one 
eff:rt,  and  then  you  will  reach  home." 

"I  will  try,"  she  said,  and  partially  dried  her  tears;  but 
when  she  attempted  to  walk,  I  found  that  her  feet  were  badly 
cut  with  stones,  her  shoes  worn  out  and  hanging  in  strips. 
Every  step  she  took  was  accompanied  with  such  expressionjj 
of  pain  tbat  I  at  last  determined  to  take  her  in  my  arms, 
und  carry  her  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  difficult  as  I  knew 
•jhe  task  would  be.     When  I  suggested  it  to  her,  she  digap- 


810  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

proved  of  the  plan  ;  but  a  few  steps  convinced  her  that  hei 
feet  could  never  take  her  form  down  the  trail,  rocky  and 
rough  as  it  was ;  so  she  made  no  strong  objection  when  I 
raised  her  in  my  arms,  and  commenced  picking  my  way  down 
the  side  of  the  mountain. 

"  You  are  real  good,"  she  whispered,  as  her  arms  were 
thrown  around  my  neck,  and  her  head  rested  on  my  bosom. 

"  Of  course  I  am,"  I  replied  in  a  cheerful  tone,  glad  tba\ 
she  had  found  some  theme  to  divert  her  thoughts. 

"I  used  to  think  you  were  hateful,"  Miss  Amelia  con- 
tinued. 

*'  I  have  no  doubt  of  it ;  but  I  never  entertained  such  an 
opinion  of  you.  I  knew  that  you  were  a  little  coquette  ;  but 
all  young  girls  have  that  failing." 

"  Now  rest  a  moment,"  Amelia  said,  when  she  found  that 
I  began  to  feel  her  weight. 

I  never  saw  a  girl  more  tender  and  considerate  than 
Amelia,  even  under  such  trying  circumstances  as  she  wa.^ 
placed  in.  Suffering  as  she  did,  ill  treated  as  she  had  been, 
overpowered  by  grief  as  she  was,  the  poor  child  still  found 
time  to  condole  with  me  on  account  of  the  burden  which  I 
had  assumed. 

"  Are  all  Americans  like  you  ?  "  she  asked,  as  I  once  more 
resumed  my  precious  load. 

"  Well,  yes,  I  think  they  resemble  me  in  some  respects,'' 
I  answered.  "  For  instance,  my  countrymen  like  to  look  at 
a  handsome  face,  and  if  a  lady  possesses  one,  all  her  faults 
are  forgiven." 

"  And  is  that  the  reason  why  you  paid  such  court  to  the 
foimg  girl  you  brought  to  the  house  ?  Jenny,  I  think  you 
called  her." 

For  the  first  time  since  we  had  met  she  raised  her  eyes  to 
mine ;  but  it  was  onty  for  a  moment.  They  dropped  in  an 
instant,  and  were  blinded  by  tears.  I  was  just  about  to  sit 
down  with  my  precious  load,  for  the  purpose  of  resting,— 
and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  I  should  have  uttered  some 
non/iense, — when  I  heard  steps  ascending  the  mountain  ;  and 
the  nexf.  instant  Hopeful  stood  before  me.     His  presence 


AMELIA'S   GKIEF.  311 

prevented  the  words  wliicli  I  should  have  spoken,  as  much 
nnder  the  influence  of  pity  as  of  passion. 

^'  Give  her  to  me,"  my  friend  said,  in  an  nngenerou3  tone  ; 
and  he  made  a  grab  at  her,  as  though  he  wo  aid  tear  her  from 
cjv  arms. 

.'ihe  clung  to  me  for  a  moment,  closer  than  ever ;  and  then 
her  arms  were  loosened,  and  she  whispered,  "  You  are  tired  ; 
let  me  go." 

I  was  tired,  and  my  arms  ached  ;  but  I  could  have  endured 
tie  fatigue,  for  the  sake  of  being  kind  to  the  poor  child,  had 
i  not  known  Hopeful's  jealous  nature,  and  how  sensitive  he 
was ;  therefore  I  relinquished  the  girl  to  Hez.  I  followed 
him  down  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  although  it  was 
some  distance  to  the  gorge  where  William  Hackett  kept 
watch  and  ward  over  the  natives  and  the  prisoner  Moloch, 
yet  the  enthusiastic  and  strong-limbed  Hopeful  disdained  to 
stop  and  rest  until  he  had  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain. 
As  I  appeared  in  sight,  Hackett  received  me  with  a  cheer 
aud  a  flourish  of  the  pipe  which  he  was  smoking,  and  his 
rifle,  which  he  had  laid  across  his  knee  for  the  purpose  of 
asing  it  in  case  of  disaffection  on  the  part  of  the  subjects 
who  were  under  his  charge  for  the  time  being.  After  the 
Illinois  gentleman  had  exhibited  his  pleasure  at  my  return, 
he  commenced  rubbing  his  bruised  leg,  and  consoling  Amelia 
after  a  style  that  was  far  more  original  than  elegant. 

*'  Don't  cry,  young  woman,"  he  said  ;  "  sich  is  life.  We 
must  all  come  to  it,  you  know.  Don't  think  nothin'  about 
it,  and  then  you'll  be  all  right.  A  cup  of  tea,  strong,  and 
plenty  of  sugar  in  it,  will  put  you  on  yer  pins  agin.  Look 
at  me." 

I  knew  that  Hackett  only  needed  a  hint  to  hold  his  tongue  ; 
so,  as  I  slapped  him  on  his  back,  I  whispered  to  him  that  the 
iady  was  not  in  a  mood  to  listen  to  advice,  however  good. 
He  took  the  hint,  and  turned  his  attention  to  Moloch,  whom 
Hopef  il  had  bound  to  a  tree  in  so  secure  a  manner  that  the 
^ellow  could  not  escape.  I  expected  that  Hackett  would  not 
be  over  choice  in  his  remarks,  or  that  Moloch  would  remain 
silent  under  his  taunts.     Whatever  he  said  in  extenuation 


312  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

of  his  crime,  would  grate  harshly  upon  Amelia's  ears ,  and 
render  her  more  miserable  than  she- was  at  the  present  time  ; 
so,  as  S3on  as  Hackett  turned  his  batteries  upon  the  prisoner, 
I  led  the  young  girl  away,  so  that  she  could  neither  see  nor 
hear  what  was  going  on. 

**  Do  not  move  irom  this  place,"  I  said  as  I  turned  to  leave 
her,  "until  I  return.*'  * 

She  nodded  her  heijd  in  token  of  her  acquiescence,  niid 
then,  to  my  surprise,  said,  "I  have  been  most  terribly  iu- 
sulted  by  that  villain  Moloch.  Promise  me  that  my  injuries 
shall  be  avenged ;  that  he  snail  not  live  to  boast  of  his  inhu- 
man treatment." 

"  Amelia,"  I  said,  taking  her  hand  and  speaking  as  calmly 
as  I  could,  "  when  I  left  your  hs^me  in  pursuit  of  Moloch,  I 
determined  that  I  would  avenge  the  outrage  if  I  could  over- 
take the  villain.  He  is  in  our  powcx'.  Rest  assured  that  I 
have  not  forgotten  my  vow." 

"  But  I  cannot  appear  in  a  court-room,"  she  remarked. 
"  I  could  never  bear  to  meet  the  eyes  of  a  gaping  crowd.  It 
would  kill  me." 

"  You  shall  not  be  called  upon  for  any  such  trial.  Trust 
to  me  for  that." 

"  I  will,"  she  answered,  and  pressed  my  hand,  and  would 
have  kissed  it  if  I  had  not  jerked  it  away. 

"  You  will  not  remain  long  ? "  she  asked,  as  I  was  leaving 
her. 

"  No,  not  long,"  I  answered ;  and  I  thought  how  many 
minutes  it  would  take  to  choke  the  breath  out  of  the  brute 
who  had  made  two  attempts  upon  my  life,  and  then  commit- 
ted a  foul  crime  because  he  suspected  the  young  lady  cared 
more  for  rae  than  she  did  for  any  one  else. 

When  I  joined  my  comrades  I  found  them  engaged  in 
reviling  Moloch.  The  wretch  did  not  suppose  for  a  moment 
that  we  would  dare  to  injure  him,  excepting  as  far  as  a  few 
slight  kicks  or  cuffs  were  concerned.  He  did  not  once 
imagine  that  we  would  take  his  life.  It  was  in  consequence 
of  false  hope  and  expectations  that  Moloch  was  rather  lively 
wlien  I  returned. 


PREPARATIONS   FOR  HANGING.  313 

**  Say,  Yankee,"  the  scoundrel  asked,  "  how  did  yer  fin'3 
me  out  ? " 

Instead  of  replying  to  the  ren^ark  I  began  to  look  aroiTiul 
for  a  tree  that  could  boast  of  a  strong  limb. 

"  Vot  is  it  ? "  he  asked.     "  Yot  do  you  vant  ?  " 

"  A  rope  and  tree  strong  enough  to  hang  ycu,"  I  an- 
swered, 

«  Yer  don't  dare  to  do  it ;  it  ain't  lawful.     I  defy  yer." 

"  Here's  fun,"  cried  Hackett ;  and  from  his  knapsack  ho 
took  a  stout  rope  and  threw  it  towards  me.  "  Hang  the 
cuss,  and  give  me  the  end  of  the  rope  to  hold  when  he 
swings  off.     Blast  him  !  no  mercy." 

The  prisoner  saw  the  preparations  with  dismay,  and 
uttered  protests,  prayers,  and  angry  howls,  of  which  we 
took  no  notice ;  while  I  quietly  made  a  slip-noose,  and  ad- 
dressed Moloch  as  soon  as  he  would  permit  me. 

"  Say  your  prayers,  for  you  have  but  a  few  moments  to 
live,"  I  remarked. 

"  You  don't  dare  to  do  it,"  he  cried,  although  his  teeth 
chattered  as  he  spoke,  thus  belying  the  air  of  courage  which 
he  assumed. 

I  nodded  to  Hez.  He  sprang  forward  and  unbound  Mo- 
loch from  the  tree,  and  then  dragged  the  wretch  towards 
the  place  of  execution.  At  last  the  natives  began  to  com- 
prehend the  meaning  of  the  preparations,  and  they  danced 
around  the  prisoner  with  demonstrations  of  joy  at  the  pro- 
posed treat ;  and  the  two  stoutest  willingly  lent  Hopeful  a 
helping  hand  in  dragging  the  fellow  forward  towards  tb® 
:*ovk  from  whence  he  was  to  take  his  final  leap. 


314  THE  BUSHRANGEKS 


CHAPTER    XLVn. 

THE   BAHailSG. AN  INTEKRUPTION. THE  TABLES  TUKNED, 

ESCAPE    OF    AMELIA. A    TABLEAU. 

At  lengtli  Hopeful  and  the  two  natives,  wlio  worked  w;tb 
much  zeal,  as  though  they  would  have  been  willing  to  help 
hang  every  Englishman  in  Victoria,  dragged  the  prisoner  to 
the  rock,  and  put  the  rope  around  his  neck.  The  instant  it 
touched  him  he  yelled  to  the  extent  of  his  voice,  and  began 
to  realize  his  situation.  He  saw  that  we  were  in  earnest, 
and  really  meant  to  hang  him ;  and  as  he  was  not  quite 
prepared  to  die,  and  was  a  coward  at  best,  he  made  con- 
siderable trouble  for  us  in  the  way  of  noise  and  struggles. 

"  Look  a-here,  you  coves,"  he  cried,  "  yer  ain't  in  arnest ; 
yer  know  yer  has  no  right  to  do  this  sort  of  a  thing.  I 
must  be  tried  afore  one  of  the  big  vigs,  and  found  guilty, 
and  sentenced  in  reglar  ship-shape  fashion.  I  don't  under- 
stand this  kind  of  vork." 

"  Pray,"  I  answered.  "  If  you  have  prayers  to  utter, 
now  is  the  time  to  use  them." 

"  You  can't  frighten  this  cove,"  was  the  answer.  "  I'm 
gam(} ;  I  knows  vot  my  rights  is,  and  I'll  stick  to  'em." 

•'When  I  drop  this  handkerchief,"  I  cried,  "you  wiU  be 
pushed  from  the  rock.  I  give  you  five  minutes  in  which  to 
repent." 

"  You  don't  mean  it,"  the  wretched  man  exclaimed ; 
*'you  is  only  jokin'  vid  me.  Let  me  off  this  time,  and  I 
von't  do  so  no  more.  I  von't,  on  honor ;  I'll  live  like  a  decent 
(!Ove  ;  you  see  if  I  don't." 

**  Your  time  is  nearly  up,"  I  remarked. 

*'  0,  no,  it  ain't ;  yer  don't  dare  to  do  so.  Vere  is  yei 
varrant  for  all  this  'ere  ?  Let  me  go  ;  I  vant  more  time  ;  I 
has  lots  of  sins  to  confess  ;  you  don't  know  one  half  of  'era." 

"  We  know  enough,"  growled  Hackett.  "  In  Illinise  we'd 
han^  you   long   afore  this.     We  values   young    women  i» 


AN  INTERRUPTION.  315 

that  state,  we  does,  and  we  don't  allow  nobody  but  theii 
husbands  to  talk  sass  to  'em." 

"You  be  —  " 

I  looked  at  my  watch  and  saw  that  the  five  mi  antes  had 
passed.  There  was  no  mercy  in  keeping  the  man  longer  io 
suspense  ;  so  I  shut  my  eyes,  and  dropped  the  handkerchief. 
I  heard  a  brief  struggle,  a  rush,  a  fall,  and  then  I  was 
knocked  down  in  a  very  energetic  manner;  and  as  I  fell  I 
b.  ard  the  report  of  Hackett's  rifle,  heard  the  yell  of  the 
T'  nois  gentleman,  the  screams  of  the  natives,  the  vigor- 
ous exclamations  of  Hez,  and  then  all  was  a  blank ;  for  I 
seemed  to  sink  into  a  painful  slumber,  from  which  I  did  not 
awaken  for  some  time  ;  and  when  I  did  open  my  eyes  it 
was  after  a  painful  effort;  and  then  I  found  that  there 
was  a  ringing  in  my  head  and  ears,  and  on  putting  up  my 
hand  I  discovered  that  there  was  blood  on  my  face,  and 
that  Rover  was  licking  it  off,  and  utterir-g  a  mournful  whine 
at  my  condition. 

"  What  the  deuce  is  it  all  about  ? "  }  asked  myself,  after 
trying  to  collect  my  thoughts.  "  VJl  ;it  has  happened  to 
me  ?  I  am  injured,  and  yet  cannot  toll  how  it  was  done. 
Let  me  think." 

Soon  I  heard  voices,  strange  voices,  ard  then  harsh  oaths  • 
and  on  looking  around,  as  well  as  I  was  able,  without  rais^ 
ing  my  head,  I  saw  some  half  dozen  rough-dressed  mcL 
sitting  on  the  rock  from  which  Moloch  was  to  take  his  leap^ 
eating  the  few  provisions  which  we  had  saved,  and  drinking 
the  laso  drop  of  brandy  which  I  had  in  my  flask,  and  which 
the  inliuman  wretches  had  robbed  me  of  while  I  was  lying 
insensible.  The  natives  had  disappeared.  Ilopeful  and 
Hackett  I  could  not  see  or  hear,  and  I  feared  that  they  had 
met  with  speedy  deaths  at  the  hands  of  the  bushrangers 
during  the  melee.  I  lay  quite  still,  and  listened  to  the  con- 
versation that  was  going  on  ;  and  by  this  means  I  was  en- 
lightened on  some  points. 

"  Old  pal,"  said  one  of  the  ruffians,  addressing  Moloch, 
"  you  had  yer  neck  stretched  a  little  that  time.  If  we'd 
been  a  few  minutes  later,  the  devil  would  have  had  you  on 


316  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

his  coals  long  afore  this  time.  Yer  old  friends  stood  yer  in 
good  uged  this  once,  and  ye  must  recollect  'em  the  next 
time  they  comes  round  the  station.  If  they  wants  a  fe^ 
bones,  give  'em,  and  don't  be  mean  about  it." 

"  You  von't  see  me  near  the  station  agin,"  answered  Mo- 
loch, speaking  with  an  effort  and  a  terrible  twist  of  his  face, 
as  though  the  words  hurt  him. 

"  Come,  old  pal,"  cried  the  rough-voiced  villain,  *'  tell  us 
how  it  happened  that  you  is  here  hangin'  by  the  neclv.  wheB 
you  should  be  at  the  station." 

*'I  left  Smith's  —  "  was  the  answer. 

"  With  the  lass  ?  I  know  you  did.-  Ah,  you  rogue,  she's 
here  somewhere,  unless  you've  put  her  out  of  the  way.  Now 
where's  the  gal  ?  " 

"  Yes,  show  us  the  lass,"  was  the  cry  of  these  ferocious 
men. 

Moloch  knew  that  it  was  impossible  to  conceal  Amelia. 
Do  the  best  that  he  could,  her  presence  would  be  known, 
and  if  he  lied  about  the  matter,  the  worse  for  him  ;  while,  if 
he  told  the  truth,  would  not  those  desperate  men  claim  the 
prize  and  keep  her,  paying  no  attention  to  his  fancied  rights  ? 
Here  were  questions  which  the  ruffian  asked  himself.  The 
bushrangers  noted  his  sullen  looks,  and  the  voice,  that  sounded 
familiar,  remarked,  — 

"  I  say,  old  feller,  you  don't  appear  to  be  satisfied  with  us. 
We've  saved  your  life,  yet  you  don't  seem  kinder  grateful. 
What  is  the  matter  r " 

Moloch  replied,  with  an  oath,  that  he  was  a  "  dummy  cove," 
and  he  was  "  ever  so  much  agag,"  which  meant  in  plain  Eng- 
lish, that  he  was  indeed  grateful,  and  would  like  to  show  hi? 
giatitude. 

"  Then  tell  us  where  the  lass  is  ;  come,  my  fine  covey,  she 
h  near  us  ;  now  show  us  the  place." 

^Moloch  did  not  dare  to  resist  the  pressure,  much  as  he 
would  have  d£sired  to.  The  bushrangers  were  too  powerful 
for  him.  As  he  led  the  way,  the  ruffians  were  compelled  to 
pass  within  four  yards  of  me.  Through  my  half-closed  eyes 
I  could   see  them,  six  rough,  ugly  brutes.     As  tliey  ap« 


THE   TABLES   TURNED  317 

proached  me,  Rover  prepared  for  hostile  demonstration  ;  but 
I  soothed  him  with  a  word.  The  hound  understood  me,  for 
I  had  trained  him  to  obey  my  glance  ;  and  no  matter  how 
savage  he  might  feel,  he  knew  that  I  would  direct  him  right. 
I  was  well  aware  that  the  bushrangers  would  shoot  the  ani- 
mal if  he  even  growled -at  them;  and  as  I  did  not  wist  to 
Jose  the  dog^  I  thought  that  it  was  best  to  compel  hi  n  to  le- 
main  quiet,  and  manifest  no  sign  of  hostility.  As  the 
bushrangers  passed  me,  they  laughed ;  and  one  of  them  re- 
marked,— 

*'  The  pistol  ball  was  too  much  for  that  cove.  He  don't 
seem  to  move  readily.  Even  the  dog  can't  bring  him  to 
life." 

*'  'Im  is  the  best  dorg  in  the  country,"  muttered  Moloch. 
'*  They  wouldn't  have  found  I,  if  it  hadn't  have  been  for  the 
dorg." 

"  I  thought  you  said  the  dog  was  savage,"  one  of  the  men 
remarked. 

"W-eel,  'im  is  ;  if  you  don't  believe  I,  jest  you  go  near 
'im ; "  and  Moloch  chuckled  at  the  thought  of  the  reception 
he  would  receive. 

"  If  he  be  so  good,  we'd  better  not  kill  him ;  he  may  be 
of  use  to  us  some  day." 

The  men  passed  on,  too  impatient  to  see  the  girl  to  pay 
much  attention  to  me  or  the  dog.  I  listened  to  the  sound 
of  their  voices  as  they  swore  and  laughed,  and  often  raised 
my  head  and  looked  around  as  -v^ell  as  I  was  able,  though 
I  seemed  rather  dizzy  at  first,  and  felt  a  little  faint :  these 
weaknesses  soon  passed  away,  and  I  was  able  to  notice 
Hopeful  and  Hackett,  both  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  lying 
on  their  backs  near  the  rock  from  which  Moloch  was  to  take 
his  leap.  The  natives  were  not  to  be  seen.  They  had  dis- 
appeared at  the  first  sound  of  strife.  I  called  the  names  of 
my  two  friends,  and  they  answered  me. 

*'  We  IS  in  a  tight  box  this  time,"  Hackett  said ;  "  but  I 
have  known  sicker  children  than  we  is  to  live  !  The  cusses 
may  kill  us,  but  we  will  die  game  at  any  rate." 

As  for  Hopeful,  he  was  too  much  cast  down  to  talk.     Sud. 


818  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

denlj  a  loud  shout  reached  my  ears,  and  thea  I  heard  curses 
naingled  with  blows.  I  listened,  and  found  that  the  bush- 
rangers had  fallen  upon  Moloch,  and  were  beating  him  in 
their  usual  savage  fashion,  simply  because  Amelia  had  left 
the  place  where  I  had  told  her  to  remain,  and  disap- 
peared. In  a  few  words  I  communicated  the  state  of  affairs 
to  Hopeful  and  Hackett,  and  they  wore  as  pleased  as  myself 
at  her  escape,  although  they  knew  she  would  suffer  and  die 
on  the  plains  or  in  the  gulches.  Suddenly  Rover  put  his 
face  to  mine,  and  manifested  his  sympathy  by  a  howl.  I 
patted  the  dog  on  his  head,  and  thought  what  a  pity  it  was 
that  he  should  die,  when  he  could  easily  make  his  escape, 
and  could  not  be  of  the  slightest  use  to  me. 

"  Good  dog,"  I  said,  "  go  home  and  tell  Smith  that  unless 
we  have  help  here  within  an  hour  we  are  lost,  and  Amelia 
with  us.     Do  you  understand  ? "     He  uttered  a  low  whine. 

"  On  your  way,"  I  continued,  talking  to  the  animal  just 
as  though  he  were  a  human  being,  "  if  you  should  see  Mur- 
den  and  his  police,  tell  them  to  come  to  our  rescue." 

I  never  saw  a  dog  look  so  intelligent  as  Rover  did  while  I 
was  speaking.  He  listened  with  the  most  respectful  atten- 
tion, as  though  to  carefully  weigh  each  word  and  treasure 
it  in  his  memory.  When  I  ceased  talking  he  waited  for  a 
moment  to  see  if  I  had  any  more  commands ;  and  when  he 
found  that  I  had  not,  he  gave  my  face  a  lick,  uttered  a 
mournful  whine,  trotted  towards  the  woods,  looked  back  for 
a  moment,  saw  me  wave  n»y  hand  in  token  of  a  long  farewell, 
and  then,  with  a  howl  expressive  of  pain  and  sorrow,  disap- 
peared in  the  woods. 

"  AVake  up  here  !  "  shouted  one  ruffian;  and  as  he  spoke,  he 
kicked  me  with  all  his  might,  and  hurt  me  most  outrageously. 

"  Blast  your  eyes  !  "  I  said,  as  I  looked  up,  knowing  that 
timidity  was  of  no  account,  "  don't  you  do  that  again." 

The  ruffians  laughed  in  a  jovial  manner  at  tlie  words,  and  one 
of  them  said  that  it  was  a  shame  to  hurt  such  a  game  chicken. 

*'  He'd  make  a  good  bushranger,"  one  of  them  remarked. 
"  If  he'll  jine  us  we'll  save  his  life." 

"  Say,  cove,  will  ycr  go  with  us  ? "  one  or  two  of  them  asked. 


A  TABLEAU.  319 

*'  Don't  yer  take  him,"  yelled  Moloch,  struggling  to  the 
front,  so  that  he  could  command  immediate  attention.  "  lie's 
a  cove  vot  is  down  on  bushrangers,  and  is  in  vith  the  traps/* 

"  How  do  you  know  it  ?  "  asked  the  voice  that  had  ^sounded 
so  familiar  to  me. 

"  'Cos  I'se  seen  'em  as  thick  as  two  thieves  at  Smith's. 
T]\ej  treated  him  jist  as  though  he  vos  von  of  'em." 

"  Let  me  see  the  man's  face,"  the  familiar-voiced  bush- 
ranger said,  and  came  towards  me. 

I  knew  the  man  at  once,  in  spite  of  his  rough  appearance, 
so  entirely  different  from  what  it  was  when  I  met  him  at 
Melbourne,  in  the  saloon  of  the  Red  Lion,  when  he  was 
concocting  with  his  pal  how  they  should  leave  the  country 
with  the  diamonds  which  they  had  stolen  from  the  lady  of 
the  governor-general.  In  fact,  before  me  stood  Patrick 
Doland.  The  fellow  looked  at  me  rather  hard  before  he  de- 
cided  that  he  recognized  me.  The  blood  on  my  face  rather 
disguised  my  appearance ;  but  after  a  while  Mr.  Doland  began 
to  assume  a  ferociouB  look,  as  though  he  was  growing  mad 
very  fast,  and  then  he  said,  — 

"  Blast  him  !  I  know  him.  It's  the  cove  what  diddled  me 
out  of  the  diamonds.     This  is  a  happy  meeting,  sir." 

I  made  no  reply,  because  I  knew  that  I  could  say  nothing 
that  would  please  him  or  appease  his  anger.  As  soon  as 
Doland  had  stated  that  he  knew  me,  the  bushrangers  uttered 
a  shout  of  wrath,  all  of  which,  was  directed  towards  me. 
They  had  a  trap  in  their  midst,  and  he  must  die. 

Suddenly  my  friend  Moloch,  the  amiable  creature,  shouted 
out,  "  Hang  him !  jist  as  he  vas  goin'  to  do  vid  me  !  " 

*'  That's  it !  "  was  the  exclamation,  as  if  they  all  compfe- 
bended  it.  "  Where's  the  rope  ?  Drag  him  to  the  jumping- 
off  place.     String  him  up." 

*'  Don't  you  do  it,  you  darned  thieves  !  "  roared  Hackett, 
ts  the  bushrangers,  dragged  me  past. 

"  Let  him  up  !  "  shouted  Hopeful ;  but  he  might  as  weU 
have  talked  to  the  winds ;  the  rascals  paid  no  attention  to 
either  of  my  friends.  A  rope  was  put  around  my  neck  and 
I  waa  pushed  off  the  rock. 


820  THE  BUSHRANGEttS. 


CHAPTER  XLVnr. 

A.N      UNEXPECTED      TUMBLE.  THE     KESCUE.  A.     PEI 'i'Al  8 

CONVEKSATION. 

According  to  all  calculations,  made  by  romancers  and 
men  of  a  scientific  turn  of  mind,  I  should  have  broken  my 
neck,  and  then  died  quite  easy,  after  the  bushrangers  pushed 
me  from  the  rock  with  a  rope  around  my  neck;  but,  for- 
tunately for  me,  as  it  afterwards  happened,  the  rascals  had 
neglected  to  fasten  one  end  of  the  rope.  Not  the  one  that 
was  around  my  neck  —  that  was  all  right,  and  rather  tight  — 
but  the  end  that  belonged  to  the  limb  of  the  tree  was  not 
secured,  and  by  this  little  mistake  I  tumbled  to  the  ground 
entirely  uninjured. 

"  The  trap  has  more  lives  than  a  cat,"  remarked  Doland, 
w^ho  was  inclined  to  laugh  at  the  exhibition  which  I  made,  as 
I  landed  on  the  sand  and  gravel. 

"If  he  has  fifty  lives  they  shall  all  be  tried,"  one  of  the 
scamps  remarked.  "  Up  with  him,  and  then  down  with 
him." 

One  of  the  robbers  came  towards  me  and  jerked  me  to 
my  feet. 

"  You  was  born  to  be  hung,"  he  said.  "  I  see  it  in  jour 
face.  You  has  got  thief  stamped  all  over  it,  like  the  small- 
pox." 

"  Hang  me  in  welcome,"  I  replied,  "  but  don't  say  that 
my  face  has  any  of  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  you  gen- 
tlemen of  the  bush  and  chain-gang." 

The  fellow  did  not  know  what  I  meant,  for  he  had  neve* 
heard  such  language.  He  stared  at  me  for  a  moment  before 
he  muttered, — 

"  What  kind  of  chaff  is  you  throwing  at  a  cove  ?  " 

Before  I  had  time  to  reply,  some  of  the  impatient  ones 
had  jerk  3d  me  to  the  top  of  the  rock ;  and  one  of  the  most 
active  climbed  the  tree  and  recovered  the  end  of  the  rope. 


AN   UNEXPECTED  TUMBLE.  321 

''  Now,  then,  pray,  trap,  pray  !  "  yelled  the  crowd,  mani- 
festing the  most  intense  delight  at  my  position. 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  pray  aloud  ? "  I  asked,  anxious  to 
g;ain  time. 

*'  Yes,  yes,  spit  it  out ; "  and  the  wretches  laughed  at  the 
noYel  sensation  which  they  were  likely  to  experience. 

I  don't  know  how  long  I  continued  praying  ;  but  I  do  know 
Ihal  I  exhorted  for  such  a^ength  of  time  that  my  audience 
grew  tired,  and  more  than  once  intimated  that  I  had  better 
shut  up,  and  be  hanged  in  peace  and  quietness.  But  I  would 
not  be  advised  ;  so  at  last  one  of  the  brutes  sprang  upon  the 
rock,  and  advanced  towards  me,  for  the  purpose  of  throwing 
me  off;  but  as  they  had  neglected  to  secure  my  hands,  I  de- 
termined to  give  the  rascal  a  warm  reception ;  so,  when  he 
got  near  enough,  I  raised  my  arm,  and  struck  him  just  be- 
tween his  eyes.  He  fell  off  the  rock  as  though  he  had  been 
shot,  and  rolled  at  the  feet  of  his  companions.  I  saw  Doland 
draw  a  pistol  from  his  belt,  and  then  I  suspected  that  death 
was  near.  I  closed  my  eyes,  expecting  to  hear  the  report 
of  his  weapon  every  moment ;  but  other  sounds  caught  my 
ear,  and  for  a  moment  hope  revived  within  my  breast.  I 
opened  my  eyes,  and  looked  at  the  bushrangers.  They  were 
listening,  as  much  astonished  as  myself,  and  unable  to  com- 
prehend the  movement.  What  could  it  mean  ?  I  thought 
that  I  could  save  myself  by  a  bold  stroke.  I  threw  from  my 
neck  the  rope,  and  shouted,  "  The  police  are  upon  you.  The 
traps  are  here."  Doland  raised  his  pistol,  and  fired  at  me. 
I  noted  his  aim,  and  threw  myself  from  the  rock  just  as  ho 
drew  the  trigger.  The  ball  passed  near  my  head,  but  left 
m^  iminjured. 

"  Kill  the  spy  I  "  they  shouted.  '"Don't  let  him  escape  ! " 
I  shouted  in  return.  In  fact  I  yelled  like  a  fiend.  "  Come 
on !"  I  cried,  speaking  as  though  I  was  addressing  a  party  of 
burly  police  officers.     "  Here  they  are.     Down  with  them." 

To  my  surprise,  I  was  answered  with  a  cheer  and  a  loud 
howl  that  spoke  of  joy  and  rage.  I  turned,  and  looked  down 
the  gorge,  and  saw  half  a  dozen  police  officers,  mounted  on 
horseback,  spurring  towards  me  as  fast  as  the  nature  of  the 


*22  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

ground  would  admit ;  and  just  in  advance  of  lliem  was  E,0"ver, 
The  bushrangers,  who  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  rock, 
heard  the  cries,  and  saw  the  advancing  force.  They  knew 
their  fate  if  they  remained ;  for  they  could  not  hope  to  op- 
pose in  a  successful  manner  the  well-disciplined  officers. 

"  Take  away !  "  yelled  the  leader  of  the  gang.  That  meant 
s-tatter  as  soon  as  possible. 

But  a  new  obstacle  was  suddenly  presented  to  the  notice 
of  the  bushrangers.  It  seems  that  while  the  robbers  were 
making  preparations  to  hang  me,  and  while  I  was  pra3ring 
kiT  their  welfare  and  my  own  safety,  Hopeful,  a  worldly- 
minded  youth,  and  at  all  times  ungodly,  not  caring  to  listen 
to  my  exhortation,  set  his  mind  to  work  devising  ways  for 
freeing  his  limbs  from  the  bonds  that  confined  them.  In 
this  he  was  successful,  as  by  some  squeezing  and  a  little 
work  he  got  one  hand  loose,  and  then  the  other ;  and  no  one 
looked  at  him,  or  watched  his  motions,  still  intent  upon  my 
execution.  He  crawled  towards  Hackett,  cut  the  ropes 
which  secured  his  arms  and  legs,  and  then  made  for  the  spot 
where  the  robbers  had  stacked  the  weapons. 

Hopeful  picked  from  the  heap,  sheltered  in  his  operations 
by  a  ridge  of  sand,  Hackett's  rifle  and  revolver,  his  own 
pistol,  and  the  one  belonging  to  me,  and  then  emptied  the 
pans  of  the  muskets,  pulled  out  the  flints,  and  crawled  out, 
just  as  I  knocked  over  the  fellow  who  was  anxious  to  see 
me  hung  before  I  was  quite  ready  for  the  operation.  Hope- 
ful and  Hackett  were  about  to  pull  trigger,  and  try  their 
luck  at  saving  me,  when  I  tumbled  the  bushranger  from  the 
rock.  Then  they  thought  they  would  wait  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  see  what  would  turn  up.  As  soon  as  the  police  appeared 
in  sight,  the  bushrangers  turned  to  run ;  but,  as  I  said  before, 
they  were  opposed  by  an  obstacle  that  they  did  not  count  on. 
Behind  some  trees  that  stood  near  the  mountain  trail  were 
posted  Hez  and  Hackett ;  so,  as  the  bushrangers  dashed  that 
way,  they  were  met  with  the  sharp  cry  of,  — 

"  Stop,  blast  yer  eyes,  or  yer  dead  men  !  " 

The  bushrangers  stopped,  astonished  at  the  sight  of  two 
resolute  men  armed  with  revolvers. 


THE  RESCUE.  323 

•*  Surrender  !*"  roared  Hackett,  "  or  we'll  blow  jev  to 
fchuuder." 

The  bushrangers  glanced  over  their  shoulders.  The  police 
had  dismounted,  and  were  advancing  as  skirmishers.  The 
robbers  saw  the  danger  that  threatened,  turned  suddenly, 
and  dashed  to  the  other  side  of  the  gorge,  meaning  to  escape 
up  the  mountain  by  the  aid  of  brush,  long  grass,  and  tree 
trunks.  But  they  did  not  carry  out  their  plans  ;  for  at  this 
moment  the  police  emptied  their  carbines,  while  Hackett  and 
Hez  fired  at  the  same  time,  and  then  volley  after  volley  was 
poured  in  until  every  man  had  fallen,  killed  or  wounded. 
Not  one  escaped  to  carry  the  news  of  the  disaster  to  the 
gangs  of  bushrangers  who  still  infested  the  mountain. 

*'  Hurrah  for  our  side  !  "  roared  Hackett,  making  an  effort 
to  stand  ;  but  the  swollen  condition  of  his  leg  prevented  him 
from  using  his  feet. 

The  police  responded  to  the  shout,  and  then  reloaded  their 
carbines  and  pistols  as  calmly  as  if  they  had  been  firing  at  a 
mark. 

"  "Well,  old  boy,  I  was  just  in  time,"  the  commissioner 
cried,  as  we  shook  hands.  "  A  few  moments  more  and  the 
rascals  would  have  laid  you  out.  Thank  fortune  I  arrived 
just  as  I  did." 

"  You  can't  be  any  more  thankful  than  myself.  But  tell 
me  how  you  happened  to  arrive  at  such  an  opportune  mo- 
ment." 

"In  one  minute.  Let  me  tell  the  men  to  look  after  the 
wounded,  and  see  if  they  can  be  assisted.  "We  must  be 
humane,  you  know." 

But  the  police  did  not  need  such  orders.  They  wert' 
Already  examining  wounds,  and  binding  up  such  as  required 
immediate  assistance  if  life  was  to  be  saved.  Moloch  waa 
dead,  shot  in  the  back  with  three  balls ;  for  it  seemed  that 
Hackett  and  Hopeful  aimed  at  his  person,  determined  that 
he  should  not  escape,  at  any  rate.  Poland  was  wounded,  a 
ball  having  crushed  the  bone  of  his  right  arm,  so  that  ampu- 
tation was  necessary  if  his  life  was  to  be  spared. 

'*  I  cai:  tell  you  in  a  few  words  how  I  happened  here,"  the 

22 


224  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

commissioner  continued,  on  his  return,  after  lie  had  examineJ 
the  wounded.  "  You  know  you  left  Smith's  with  oat  waiting 
for  me  or  my  men,  which  I  don't  think  much  of.  It  was  an 
act  of  imprudence  that  should  have  cost  you  dear,  and  as 
Boon  as  I  heard  that  you  had  started  I  felt  uneasy;  but 
tainking  that  you  would  return  by  morning,  I  secured  my 
prisoners,  and  told  the  men  to  take  that  rest  which  they 
needed  so  much.  In  the  morning  you  did  not  make  your 
appearance.  I  grew  impatient,  and  determined  to  seek  you. 
I  divided  my  scjuad,  sent  Maurice  to  the  city  with  six  men 
and  the  prisoners,  and  then  took  the  best  tracker  that  Smith 
had  at  the  station,  and  followed  your  trail.  We  met  Eover, 
and  you  never  saw  a  dog  so  delighted  as  he  was.  He  almost 
talked ;  for  I  understood  him  sufficiently  to  know  that  you 
were  alive,  and  that  you  had  sent  him  to  find  assistance.  He 
led  us  here,  and  you  know  the  rest." 

"  Now  let  one  of  your  men  look  after  Hackett,"  I  said ; 
"  you  will  find  him  a  trump  ;  "  and  I  led  the  commissioner 
forward  and  introduced  him ;  and  then  an  officer  was  set  at 
work  rubbing  the  western  man's  leg. 

I  whispered  to  Murden  that  I  was  going  in  search  of 
Amelia,  and  asked  him  to  keep  his  men  occupied  until  my 
return ;  then,  calling  Rover,  I  started  for  the  place  where  I 
had  last  left  the  girl.  I  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  it,  or  in 
putting  the  hound  on  the  trail.  I  hurried  on  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible, and  at  last  found  the  object  of  my  search  lying  upon 
the  ground,  and  nearly  insensible.  I  knelt  beside  her,  and 
called  her  by  name ;  but  at  first  she  only  shuddered,  and 
seemed  to  think  that  Moloch  was  addressing  her. 

■*  Spare  me,  Moloch,"  she  moaned,  "  and  I  will  forgive  you. 
Let  me  return  home.  My  head  aches  so  badly,  and  1  feel 
coll  and  tired." 

I  took  her  fair  head  in  my  lap,  and  bathed  her  face  and 
forehead  with  brandy,  and  forced  a  few  drops  between  her 
lips.  The  liquor  seemed  to  benefit  her ;  for  she  ceased  to 
moan  and  sob,  and  at  last  opened  her  large  blue  eyes,  and 
fixed  them  on  me  with  a  terrified  glare  that  soon  gave  place 
to  a  look  of  pleasure.     She   started  up,  and  clapped  my 


A  PKITATF  CONVERSATION.  32 5 

hands,  and  commenced  kissing  them,  although  they  were  not 
in  a  kissable  state,  for  they  had  not  seen  soap  and  Yrater 
«5mce  we  left  her  brother's  house.  For  a  moment  I  feared 
that  her  mind  was  unsettled  ;  but  she  soon  convinced  me  that 
such  was  not  the  case,  for  she  whispered,     - 

"  You  have  escaped  them.  Are  you  safe  ?  Are  we  both 
fiafe  from  pursuit  ?  If  we  are  not,  I  can  walk ; "  and  she 
showed  me  her  poor  wounded  feet,  with  the  blood  scaked 
through  her  stockings,  or  the  remnants  of  stockings,  and  only 
the  uppers  of  lier  boots  left. 

"  We  are  both  safe,  Amelia,"  I  remarked,  in  a  quiet  tone. 

"  A.re  you  sure  ?     You  will  not  deceive  me  ? " 

*'  Thank  Heaven,  there  is  no  occasion  for  deception. 
There  is  a  squad  of  police  in  the  gulch.  They  came  just  in 
time  to  save  us." 

*'  And  that  devil  ? "  she  asked,  with  a  fierceness  that  was 
unnatural. 

"  He  has  paid  the  penalty  of  his  crimes." 

"  Is  he  dead  ? "  and  in  her  joy  she  would  have  started  to 
her  feet ;  but  I  kept  my  arms  around  her,  and  prevented  her 
from  doing  so. 

"He  is  dead." 

"  Thank  God  !  " 

She  laid  her  head  on  my  bosom  like  a  tired  child,  anxioua 
for  rest.  Her  eyes  were  closed,  and  she  seemed  to  be  en- 
gaged in  deep  thought.  I  did  not  disturb  her  meditations, 
for  I  could  imagine  what  they  were.  At  last  she  opened  her 
eyes. 

"  Take  me  home,"  she  cried.  "  My  head  aches,  and  I 
need  rest." 

I  had  just  raised».her  in  my  arms,  when  my  friend  burst 
through  the  bushes  and  joined  us. 

"  This  ain't  jist  the  thing  ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  She  don't 
belong  to  you.  Give  her  to  me  ;  I'll  carry  her  down  the 
mountain." 

Even  before  I  had  time  to  remonstrate,  he  put  out  his 
hands  and  took  her  from  me,  and  then  turned  and  dashed 
down  the  mountain  like  a  madman.     When  I  reached  the 
28 


Z26  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

gorge,  I  foand  that  the  police  were  burying,  as  well  as  the^ 
could,  the  bodies  of  the  dead  bushrangers.  Poland  was 
alive,  and  so  were  two  other  members  of  the  fraternity,  but 
so  badly  injured  that  it  was  hardly  possible  for  them  to  re- 
cover. As  for  taking  them  on  horseback,  it  was  not  to  be 
thought  of;  they  would  not  have  lived  an  hour.  The  com- 
missioner, as  soon  as  I  was  at  leisure,  asked  my  advice  on 
the  subject,  and  I  gave  it  promptly,  as  usual. 

"  We  must  press  the  natives  into  our  service,"  I  said. 
"  We  must  build  litters,  and  compel  them  to  carry  our 
wounded.  Some  of  your  men  must  walk,  and  see  that  the 
blacks  do  not  desert,  while  we  ride  to  the  station  and  send 
out  ox-teams.  Hackett  can  ride,  and  so  can  Amelia  —  both 
of  them  need  immediate  attention  and  rest." 

Murden  liked  my  plan  so  well  that  he  instantly  resolved  to 
carry  it  into  effect. 


CHAPTER   XLIX. 

A    TIRESOME    RIDE. ARRIVAL    AT    THE    STATION. DEPART- 
URE   FOR    MELBOURNE. 

When  we  left  the  gulch,  Murden  gave  the  officers,  whom 
he  left  in  charge  of  the  natives  and  the  litters,  a  few  direc- 
tions about  the  route,  and  the  place  where  they  might  expect 
to  meet  the  ox-teams,  sent  from  the  stations,  and  then  he 
joined  me  at  the  head  of  the  cavalcade,  and  we  plunged  into 
the  desert.  For  an  hour  or  two  we  toiled  on,  too  much  oc- 
cupied with  our  thoughts  to  exchange  words  ;  but  at  length 
Ihe  darkness  made  us  more  companionable,  and  I  asked  the 
commissioner  a  few  questions  which  I  had  longed  to  be  en- 
lightened upon. 

"  I  hope  that  Smith  is  taking  care  of  the  gold  I  left  with 
him,"  I  said,  as  a  feeler  for  conversation. 

"  0,  of  course,  I  saw  him  stow  it  away  in  his  cellar.  That 
is  all  right,  I'll  warrant  you.  Smith  is  not  the  man  to  neglect 
such  trusts." 


A  TniESOME  EIDE.  327 

"  Did  you  leave  Sir  William  Byefield  at  the  station  r  "  1 
asked. 

"  No  ;  he  left  the  morning  that  I  did,  hound  for  Mel- 
bourne." 

"  What  became  of  Jenny,  the  young  lady  whom  we  mei 
in  Mud  Lane  several  times  ?  " 

*'  Ah !  now  your  conversation  is  getting  interesting,  to 
you  at  least,  if  not  to  me.  You  mean  the  girl  with  the  blue 
eyes?" 

"  Yes  ;  you  know  whom  I  mean." 

"  Well,  the  young  lady  started  for  Melbourne  when  I  sent 
my  prisoners  to  the  city,  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Maurice.  She  would  go,  in  spite  of  Smith's  protestations 
and  my  entreaties.  The  fact  of  it  is,  Maurice  is  a  devilish 
good-looking  fellow,  and  just  the  sort  of  a  man  to  suit  a 
girl  like  Jenny." 

"  If  you  talk  any  more  such  nonsense,  I'll  desert  your 
company,"  I  replied ;  "  you  know  I  don't  like  it." 

"  To  be  sure  I  do ;  but  the  quicker  you  are  ridiculed  out 
of  your  passion  for  that  girl,  the  better  it  will  be  for  your 
peace  of  mind  and  happiness." 

I  did  not  answer  him,  for  just  at  that  moment  I  heard 
Amelia  calling;  me  ;  sol  turned  to  see  what  she  wanted.  Hez 
had  rode  by  her  horse's  head  ever  since  we  left  the  gulch. 
As  I  drew  up  by  her  side,  much  to  Hopeful's  disgust,  she 
leaned  over  and  whispered,  — 

"  I  am  nearly  dead  with  fatigue,  and  can  hardly  keep  froia 
falling  from  my  horse.  Do  remain  near  me  and  suppt)rt  me, 
for  my  eyes  close  of  their  own  accord." 

I  looked  at  my  watch,  —  for  I  had  recovered  it  from  the 
hands  of  the  bushrangers  after  their  defeat,  —  and  foimd  that 
it  was  twelve  o'clock,  and  that  we  were  some  ten  miles  from 
the  mountain,  having  made  fair  progress  in  spite  of  the  con- 
dition of  the  roads  and  the  fatigue  of  our  horses.  I  saw 
that  the  anin,?Js  could  hardly  wade  through  the  sand  without 
rest,  and  it  was  singular  how  quick  I  made  the  discovery 
after  I  found  that  Amelia  was  almost  exhausted.  I  rode 
forward  and  spoke  to  Mm-dcn. 


328  THE   BUSHRA^GEKS. 

"  We  must  halt  nntil  dayliglit,"  I  said.  "  The  horses  ar« 
ready  to  drop  from  exhaustion." 

"  Let  'em  drop,"  was  the  answer.     "  We  can  find  others." 

"  Not  in  this  desert.  Besides,  think  for  a  moment ;  Miss 
Amelia  is  nearly  dead  for  the  want  of  rest." 

*'  Why  didn't  you  say  so  in  the  first  place  ?  Of  course 
we'll  halt  and  rest ;  "  and  in  a  few  minutes  we  were  on  the 
sa-nds,  while  I  speedily  prepared  a  bed  for  the  girl,  and 
spread  over  her  and  under  her  blankets  which  we  found 
strapped  to  the  saddles. 

"  You're  very  kind,"  Amelia  murmured,  as  she  closed  hei 
eyes.     "  I  shall  never  forget  such  kindness  —  never." 

Hopeful  took  up  his  position  near  her  head,  but  did  not 
speak.  I  left  him,  and  went  in  search  of  the  commissioner, 
who  was  smoking  his  pipe,  and  suggested  that  he  should  in- 
duce Hez  to  take  the  freshest  horse,  and  push  on  for  the 
station,  and  obtain  relief,  which  we  should  g^ed  the  next 
day.  Murden  approved  of  the  idea,  and  at  length  induced 
Hopeful  to  undertake  the  mission,  although  he  wanted  to 
know  why  I  couldn't  go  as  well  as  he  ;  but  the  commissioner 
hinted  at  attacks,  and  how  much  I  was  needed  to  resist  them, 
so  that  on  the  whole  my  comrade  took  his  departure  in  pretty 
good  spirits. 

We  wished  him  success,  and  off  he  went,  to  my  great  re- 
lief. We  were  up  at  daylight ;  but  while  we  felt  refre&aled, 
the  animals  did  not,  for  they  had  eaten  nothing  but  the  tops 
of  the  bushes,  and  attempted  to  quench  their  thirst  with  the 
dew  that  settled  upon  the  same  —  rather  scant  diet  for  horses 
accustomed  to  better  fare.  We  tmmed  from  the  trail,  wLicb 
was  over  a  country  composed  of  sand,  bush,  and  dried  grass, 
and  went  in  search  of  water,  which  we  had  been  informed 
could  be  found  near  at  hand. 

At  last  we  caught  sight  of  a  stream,  not  more  than  a  yard 
wida,  and  a  few  inches  deep,  a  tributary  to  the  Great  Mur- 
ray in  the  wet  season,  but  lost  in  the  sand  long  before  it 
reached  that  river  during  the  dry  months.  Our  animals 
weie  too  impatient  to  slake  their  thirst  to  be  restrained  afiei 
tbcy  caught  sight  of  the  stream.     They  plunged  down  ^he 


ARRIVAL   AT  THE  STATION.  32S 

saad  hills,  and  did  not  stop  until  they  were  standing  in  the 
hot,  shallow  water.  We  dismounted  so  as  to  allow  the  poot 
brutes  a  chance  to  drink.  I  assisted  Amelia  to  alight,  and 
then  helped  Ilackett  to  the  ground,  for  his  leg  wn«  so  much 
ewollen  that  he  could  not  use  it  or  move  it  without  excessive 
pain.  I  made  the  lady  as  comfortable  as  possible,  screening 
her  head  with  a  brush  tent ;  and  was  thanked  for  the  same 
in  so  sweet  a  manner  that  I  almost  forgot  the  dear  chila  a 
misfortunes.  At  one  o'clock  we  were  up  and  off,  shap- 
ing our  course  for  the  bridge  of  salt,  where  I  thought  we 
could  cross  without  much  trouble  from  the  alligators,  and 
save  time  and  many  miles  of  travel.  All  turned  out  as  I 
anticipated,  to  my  joy  and  Murden's  disgust.  We  saw  evi- 
dences of  the  struggle  that  had  taken  place  when  Hez  and 
I  had  crossed,  some  few  nights  before ;  but  all  traces  of  the 
horse,  which  the  alligators  had  knocked  into  the  mud,  were 
lost.  We  ha(^.but  a  few  miles  to  go  to  reach  Smith's  station ; 
and,  by  urging  our  animals,  we  were  enabled  to  arrive  at  the 
farm  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon.  Smith  was  in  the  yard, 
in  front  of  his  house,  when  we  galloped  up.  The  poor  man, 
who  had  been  almost  dead  with  anxiety  during  our  absence, 
neither  able  to  work  nor  rest,  rushed  towards  us  with  out- 
stretched arms,  ready  to  give  us  the  warmest  welcome  that 
it  was  possible  to  bestow. 

"  You  have  brought  her  back !  "  the  stockman  cried.  *'  0, 
how  glad  I  am  she's  here  !  How  shall  I  thank  you  for  this  ? 
Here,  Mary ! "  and  he  ran  towards  the  house  to  tell  his  wife 
the  good  news,  shouting  all  the  way;  but  just  before  he 
reached  the  door  he  altered  his  mind,  and  came  tearing 
towards  us,  too  confused  to  utter  a  half  dozen  words  in  a 
grammatical  manner. 

"  What  did  yer  do  with  the  rascally  cove  what  Amelia  ran 
away  with?  No  —  I  mean  —  well,  I'm  glad  to  see  you  all. 
Come  to  my  arms,  lass,  and  don't  you  do  it  agin.  Yv'ife  has 
been  sick  about  yer  all  the  time  yer  was  gone ;  but  I  told 
her  you'd  be  here  when  you  come,  and  yer  see  I'm  right." 

The  honest  and  enthusiastic  fellow  did  not  wait  for  a  word, 
or  even  note  the  girl's  appearancfi.     He   snatched  her  from 
28 -'^ 


330  THE    BUSHRAN(t±:KS. 

her  horse,  and  carried  her  in  his  arms  to  the  house,  ar.d  gave 
her  up  to  his  wife  ;  but  when  he  rushed  out  again  he  did  not 
know  that  he  left  the  brave  and  heroic  girl  insensible.  AD 
her  noble  resolution  and  courage  had  failed  when  she  found 
that  she  was  once  more  at  home  and  in  her  sister's  presence. 
Mrs.  Smith,  her  eyes  blinded  with  tears,  laid  the  poor  child 
•upon  a  bed,  and  then  came  to  the  door  in  search  of  help. 

"I  am  glad  that  you  have  come,"  she  said;  "for  I  fear 
that  Amelia  is  dying.     What  shall  I  do  ?" 

"  Call  your  servant  girl,  and  let  her  assist  you  to  undress 
the  young  lady.  Before  you  do  so,  wash  Amelia's  face  and 
neck  with  cold  water,  and  when  she  is  able,  let  her  take  a 
bath.  It  is  a  critical  period  of  her  life,  and  her  reason  de- 
pends upon  your  management.  She  must  be  treated  as  care- 
fully as  a  child." 

"  You  were  not  in  time  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Smith,  as  she  turned 
her  agitated  face  upon  me,  with  tears  streaming  from  her 
eyes ;  for  she  began  to  surmise  the  worst. 

"  The  one  who  ill-treated  her  is  dead.  Let  that  suffice  for 
the  present.  If  she  recovers  she  may  tell  you  all,  or  bury  the 
secret  in  her  own  breast.     Do  not  seek  to  force  it  from  her." 

"  I  will  be  guided  by  your  advice  ;  but  it  is  a  cruel  blow 
to  one  so  young  and  ambitious  as  she  was.  I  did  hope  at 
one  time  that  you  and  she  would  —  But  never  mind  now ; 
that  is  all  passed." 

I  did  not  know  what  she  meant ;  neither  did  I  stop  to  ask 
for  an  explanation.  There  was  no  time  to  waste  in  wordy. 
I  left  the  room,  and  hurried  to  find  the  servant,  and  when  ( 
found  her,  sent  her  to  her  mistress's  assistance. 

"  Where's  Amelia  ? "  asked  Smith.  "  I  must  go  and  3f! ' 
her.     I  suppose  she's  dying  to  talk  with  me." 

lie  started  towards  the  door ;  but  I  laid  a  hand  upon  hih 
shoulder  and  detained  him. 

"  You  had  better  not  see  her  for  a  few  days,"  I  said. 
"  She  needs  rest  after  her  escape." 

*'  Well,  can't  she  rest  while  she's  talking  to  me  ? " 

"  Not  in  this  instance.  After  you  have  heard  hew  much 
she  has  suffered,  you  will  think  so." 


ARRIVAL  AT  THE  STATION.  831 

1  6SLW  that  Smith  looked  surprised  and  inquisitive ;  so  1 
led  him  aside,  and  imparted  to  him  as  much  information  as 
I  jDleased  respecting  the  results  of  our  trip.  In  the  mean 
time,  Murden  had  retired  to  the  house  for  the  purpose  of 
sending  a  despatch  to  Melbourne  announcing  his  successes, 
and  asking  for  a  strong  squad  of  officers  to  join  him  and 
take  charge  of  the  prisoners.  I  helped  with  his  despatch, 
and  put  in  the  romantic  touches  when  he  felt  a  little  at  fault. 
The  day  after  the  police  arrived,  and  took  charge  of  the 
prisoners.  Lieutenant  Maurice  came  with  them,  and  report- 
ed that  the  whole  city  was  in  an  uproar  of  rejoicing  at  the 
brilliant  successes  which  Murden  had  met  with.  The  lieu- 
tenant brought  several  newspapers,  which  contained  flaming 
accounts  of  the  commissioner's  doings,  furnished  by  an  eye- 
witness, and  about  as  reliable  as  some  of  the  reports  which 
found  their  way  into  the  American  papers  during  the  late 
rebellion.  As  soon  as  Maurice  had  rested,  I  managed  to  ex- 
change a  few  words  with  him  on  a  subject  that  interested  me 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,"  the  ol£cer  said,  "  Jenny  returned 
to  the  Eed  Lion  as  soon  as  she  reached  Melbourne,  and  I 
have  not  seen  her  since.  Deuced  pretty  girl,  but  rather  airy 
for  one  who  don't  know  more  than  she  does." 

"  Where  is  her  father,  the  Manchester  Pet  ?  "  I  continued. 
*'  You  recollect  we  left  him  in  jail  for  that  murderous  assault 
on  me  in  his  crib  at  Melbourne." 

*'  O,  the  Pet  was  held  for  a  week  by  the  beak  ;  but  as  no 
one  appeared  against  him,  after  continuing  the  case  for  three 
or  four  times,  he  was  discharged." 

I  was  about  to  leave  my  friend  when  he  continued  ;  — 

"  Sir  William  is  in  Melbourne.  I  saw  him  the  morning  I 
left  coming  from  the  direction  of  the  Red  ition.  Look  out,  old 
fellow,  or  the  baronet  will  get  the  best  of  you.  He  is  rich,  and 
has  a  title,  and  women  like  titles.  By  the  way,  Sir  William 
has  something  on  h!^  mind.    I  wish  I  knew  what  it  was." 

I  smiled  at  the  honest  frankness  of  the  police  officer,  and 
had  no  doubt  but  that  he  would  soon  have  found  out  if  he 
had  had  a  clew  to  work  on. 

''I  suppose   you   know  that  Mother  Brown  is  in   Mel- 


332  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

bourne  ?''' Maurice  continued.  "I  m aw  the  old  hag,  drunk 
as  a  lord,  in  a  station  house ;  and  she  asked  me  to  let  her 
out,  on  the  ground  of  old  acquaintance." 

"  And  she  is  still  in  custody  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  and  will  remain  in  prison  for  a  month  or  two,  oi 
until  she  has  worked  out  her  fine.  She's  a  miserable  old 
drunkard,  ain'i  she  ?" 

That  she  ki.ew  something  of  importance  about  Jenny  and 
Sir  William  Byefield,  I  had  not  the  least  doubt ;  bat  she  had 
managed  thus  far  not  to  lisp  a  word  of  it  to  me,  saying  the 
time  would  come  when  I  should  know  all.  I  was  now  quite 
anxious  to  reach  Melbourne  as  soon  as  possible ;  so  I  left 
Maurice,  and  hurried  to  find  the  commissioner. 

"  Let  us  leave  this  place  at  once,"  I  said. 

"You've  changed  your  mind  rather  quick,"  Murden  re- 
marked,  with  an  expression  of  surprise. 

"  Of  course  I  have,  and  you  shall  know  the  reason  why. 
Maurice  has  brought  news  that  the  city  is  in  a  ferment  about 
your  successes.  To  keep  alive  the  excitement,  you  had  bet- 
ter reach  Slelbourne  before  the  prisoners,  and  then  give  your 
own  version  of  the  matter." 

"  And  the  gold  ?  You  know  Smith  has  all  of  our  plunder 
in  the  cellar." 

"  Smith  starts  for  the  city  in  a  few  days  to  obtain  his 
winter  supplies.  He  can  bring  the  money  concealed  in  one 
of  his  ox  teams." 

"  And  your  friend  Hackett  —  what  will  you  do  with  him  ?  " 

"  Let  him  remain  here  until  his  wounds  and  bruises  are 
healed  ;  then  I  will  find  something  for  him  to  do.  He  hi  too 
valuable  a  man  to  part  with." 

Murden  revolved  the  matter  over  in  his  mind,  and  then 
agreed  to  start  at  once  for  the  city,  leaving  Maurice  and  his 
strong  corps  of  police  to  bring  in  the  prisoners  next  day.  I 
entered  the  house,  saw  Mr.  Smith  for  a  moment,  and  found 
that  Amelia  was  doing  quite  well,  having  slept  for  nearly 
twenty  hours,  with  occasional  wakings,  and  had  ceased  to 
gob  during  the  latter  intervals,  although  she  did  moan,  while 
sleeping,  in  a  wild  and  random,  manner. 


A    KOW   AT   THE   KED   LION.  3u3 

Smith  made  eome  serious  objections  to  my  moving,  but 
firithdrew  tbem  T/ben  be  beard  that  we  must  go  on  important 
business,  tbat  WGu!d  admit  of  no  delay.  We  shook  bands 
and  started  on  our  journey,  and  did  not  draw  rein  until  we 
stopped  at  Webber's.  We  roused  the  old  Dutchman  with 
5ome  difficulty,  made  him  give  us  a  "  spider,"  or  some 
brandy  and  beer  mixed,  the  best  drink  that  he  had,  fed  and 
waf-.ered  our  horses,  and  were  off  at  full  speed  before  the 
host  had  time  to  comprehend  that  we  had  arrived.  We 
reached  Melbourne  at  sundown.  I  changed  my  clothes, 
bad  a  bath,  and  then  stole  from  the  commissioner's  house, 
while  he  and  Hez  were  at  table,  and  walked  rapidly  towards 
Mud  Lane  and  tbe  Ked  Lion,  for  I  longed  to  take  one  look 
at  Jenny,  and  to  know  that  she  was  well  before  I  slept. 
I  pulled  my  hat  over  my  eyes,  and  walked  down  the  lane  in 
a  careless  manner,  and  at  length  stood  before  the  open  door 
of  the  saloon.  I  glanced  in,  and  saw  Jenny  sitting  at 
one  of  the  tables,  and  opposite  to  her  sat  a  man  who  ap- 
peared too  respectable  for  such  a  place,  and  I  wondered 
who  he  could  be ;  but  the  instant  he  raised  his  cap,  I  saw 
it  was  Sir  William  Byefield  in  disguise,  and  that  the  old 
wretch  was  quite  attentive  to  the  girl,  while  the  Manches- 
ter Pet  did  not  appear  to  regard  them  in  the  least,  as  she 
dispensed  beer  and  "  spiders.'* 


CHAPTER    L. 


A     fiOW    AT     THE     EED     LION.  A    BARONET    IN    DANGER.    — 

TO    THE    RESCUE. THE    PET    KNOCKED    OUT   OF    TIME, 

I  don't  know  how  long  I  remained  standing  at  the  door, 
lor>.king  at  the  couple ;  but  at  last  I  was  aroused  from  my 
reverie  by  some  one  driving  his  elbow  into  my  ribs.  I 
looked  up  and  saw  a  rough,  weather-beaten  man-of-war's- 
man,  who  was  steering  for  the  bar  of  the  Red  Lion,  deter- 
mined to  get  rid  of  his  money  as  soon  as  possible.     I  drew 


334  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

back  from  the  door,  so  that  the  sailor  could  pass,  and 
declined  his  invitation  to  drink. 

"  Well,  my  hearty,  if  you  won  t,  some  one  else  will.  But 
you're  a  tough  one  not  to  drink  when  you're  axed.  No  of- 
fence, you  know ; "  and  in  the  tar  rolled,  and  was  greeted 
with  a  grunt  of  profound  satisfaction  by  the  Manchester  Pet. 

**  Gin,"  said  the  sailor ;  and  then  turning  to  the  crowd 
of  loafers  and  customers  who  were  congregated  in  the  room, 
he  invited  all  to  drink  at  his  expense  —  an  offer  that  wag 
not  long  in  being  accepted. 

The  sailor  swallowed  his  liquor,  and  then  glanced  around 
the  saloon.  His  eyes  fell  upon  Jenny's  fair  face,  and  lin- 
gered there  for  a  few  minutes  with  much  pleasure.  Think- 
ing that  he  would  like  to  kiss  the  girl,  he  rolled  towards  her, 
put  one  arm  around  her  waist,  before  she  knew  what  he 
meant,  a;nd  then  gave  her  a  hug  that  must  have  made  her 
ribs  ache,  and  bent  his  head  to  kiss  her  red  lips  ;  but  instead 
of  encountering  anything  so  soft,  he  met  the  hard  fist  of  Sir 
William,  sent  out  straight  from  his  shoulder.  The  blow  fell 
upon  the  sailor's  face  with  much  force.  Jack  released  his 
hold  of  the  girl  and  staggered  back,  but  did  not  fall,  as  I 
thought  he  would.  He  rallied  in  an  instant,  and  then  made 
a  rush  for  Sir  William,  two  or  three  of  the  vagabonds  going 
forward  to  assist  him.  Miss  Jenny,  like  a  well-disciplined 
girl,  or  one  brought  up  in  a  porter-house,  did  not  utter  a 
shriek  or  yell.  She  merely  swept  out  of  the  room  as  quick 
as  possible.  I  was  at  first  inclined  to  bound  forward  and 
lend  the  baronet  some  assistance ;  but  jealousy  kept  mo 
quiet.  So  I  remained  at  the  door,  and  looked  on.  But  this 
indifference  was  speedily  changed  to  admiration  at  the  pluck 
of  the  baronet,  and  the  coolness  of  the  Manchester  Pet. 
I'he  former  repelled  the  three  or  four  men  who  came  upon 
him,  striking  at  his  head  and  face,  and  the  latter  did  not 
seem  to  care  whether  there  was  a  fight  or  not.  Presently 
the  Pet  said,  "  Close  the  door,"  and  I  knew  what  that  meant. 
One  of  the  bar-room  loafers  rushed  forward  for  the  pur- 
pose of  closing  it  and  obeying  the  orders  of  the  Pet.  Just 
as   he   laid   his   hand    on   the    door   I  determined  to   act 


THE  PET  KNOCKED  OUT  OF  TIME.  335 

I  sprang  forward,  seized  the  loafer  by  the  collar  of  Lis  coat, 
and  hurled  him  into  the  street,  and  with  such  force  that  he 
fell  his  whole  length.  Then  I  put  a  silver  whistle,  which  1 
carried  in  my  pocket,  to  my  lips,  and  blew  a  shrill  blast. 
For  a  moment  I  listened ;  then  away  off,  on  the  corner  of  a 
street,  still  near  the  purlieus  of  Mud  Lane,  came  back  ao 
answer.  Satisfied  that  the  signal  was  noted,  and  that  my 
retreat  would  be  secured,  I  entered  the  Red  Lion.  As  1 
did  so,  the  Manchester  Pet  caught  a  glimpse  of  me,  and  left 
his  position  behind  the  bar.  "  The  spy,"  he  saiw,  in  a  low 
tone,  but  full  of  passion,  that  meant  mischief.  He.  came 
straight  towards  me,  his  huge  fists  doubled  up,  and  ven- 
geance in  his  eyes.  I  glanced  around  the  room,  saw  that 
no  one  was  near  me,  so  that  I  could  not  be  taken  at  a 
disadvantage,  took  one  step  nearer  a  table  stained  with 
slops  of  beer,  and  then  awaited  the  onslaught  of  the  giant, 
whose  strength  I  had  felt  once  before.  But  this  time  I  de- 
termined not  to  be  caught  in  a  trap,  and  if  the  worst  should 
come,  to  use  my  revolver  to  some  effect,  and  kill  the  brute. 

"  0,  you  —  "  It  was  a  terrible  oath  that  the  man  uttered 
when  he  came  within  striking  distance  of  me  ;  and  he  aimed 
a  blow  at  my  head  that  would  have  crushed  my  skull,  had  it 
hit  me.  But  it  did  not,  for  I  avoided  it  by  a  quick  motion 
of  my  body,  and  consequently  the  Pet  swayed  one  side,  and 
reeled  like  a  drunken  man.  I  had  expected  this,  and  made 
preparations  for  it ;  and  before  the  giant  could  recover  his 
upright  position  and  self-defence,  I  seized  a  heavy  pewter 
pot  that  stood  on  the  table  near  my  right  hand,  and  with  all 
the  strength  that  I  could  muster,  struck  the  brate  full  npon 
the  nose,  just  between  the  eyes.  I  saw  the  blood  spirt  out  of 
I  he  wound,  and  then  the  Pet  reeled,  and  fell  with  a  crash  that 
jarred  the  room,  and  made  the  bottles  on  the  bar  shake  as  if 
with  fear.  For  a  moment  I  stopped  to  look  at  the  fallen  brute, 
and  the  next  I  ruv..hed  towards  the  crowd  that  were  pressing 
on  Sir  William,  whom  I  found  down,  and  receiving  much 
punishment,  without  a  cry  for  help  or  a  murmur. 

"  Let  the  man  alone,  you  scoundrels,"  I  roared. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  the  sailor,  and  the  loafo- 


336  THE  BUSHEANGEES. 

who  was  assisting  him  in  pommelling  Sir  'W^illiam,  turned 
and  made  a  furious  assault  on  me.  I  disdained  to  use  the 
beer  pot  against  them ;  so  I  threw  it  at  the  Pet's  head,  for 
the  giant  was  beginning  to  show  signs  of  life.  It  hit  him, 
and  down  went  his  cranium  with  a  crash. 

*'  Board  the  land  pirate,"  roared  the  sailor  ;  and  at  me  he 
came,  his  companion  a  little  in  the  rear. 

I  dodged  the  first  onslaught,  but  did  not  have  time  to  do 
more,  for  I  suddenly  found  a  stout  hand  upon  my  colar; 
and  turning  I  saw  that  I  was  in  the  hands  of  half  a  dozen 
police  oiHcers,  while  at  the  same  moment  the  sailor  and 
loafer  were  secured. 

"  Put  the  darbies  on  'em,"  said  the  sergeant  of  police. 
"  They  has  had  a  precious  fight,  and  must  pay  for  it." 

The  officer  attempted  to  slip  a  pair  of  handcuffs  on  my 
wrists,  but  I  resisted. 

*'  0,  it's  no  sort  of  use  ;  you  must  wear  'em,"  he  said. 

"  Let  me  alone,  and  look  to  the  gentleman  who  is  on  the 
floor.     I  fear  that  the  ruffians  have  injured  him." 

I  spoke  in  so  authoritative  a  tone,  that  the  man  was  con- 
founded, and  turning  to  the  sergeant,  remarked,  "Here's  a 
queer  soit  of  a  cove.  I  wish  you'd  see  what  you  can  make 
of  him.     He  talks  like  a  big  wig." 

The  sergeant  came  bustling  towards  me,  full  of  impor- 
tance, and  all  ready  to  condemn  the  officer  for  his  want  of  zeal. 

"  A^Tio  are  you,  sir  ? "  he  asked.     "  A  student  on  a  lark  ? " 

"No." 

"  Does  any  of  you  know  the  cove  ? "  asked  the  sergeant, 
pointing  to  me. 

Not  one  of  the  officers  knew  me. 

"  We  must  take  you  to  the  station  house.  Put  the  iron;:! 
on  'em,  lads  ;  "  and  the  commanding  officer  lighted  a  cigar. 

"  One  moment,"  I  said.  "  I  do  not  desire  to  go  to  the 
station  house,  and  I  also  wish  to  keep  my  friend  out  of  it." 

The  police  consulted  together  for  a  moment,  but  I  saw 
that  they  were  like  to  act  against  me  unless  I  was  prompt.  I 
did  not  wish  to  send  for  Murden  if  it  was  possible  to  avoid 
it,  for  I  did  not  desire  to  have  the  laugh  against  me,  and  I 


THE  RELEASE.  88? 

knew  that  he  would  quiz  me  most  unmercifuliy  if  he  was 
aware  of  my  visit  to  the  Eed  Lion.  This  I  meant  to  avoid ; 
so  when  the  sergeant  had  followed  me  to  the  other  end  of 
the  room,  I  said  to  him,  in  a  coniidential  manner,  — 

"  Sergeant,  you  must  get  me  out  of  this,  you  know.  Take 
the  rest  of  your  prisoners  to  the  station  house  ;  but  the  gentle- 
man whom  I  saved  from  a  bad  beating  must  go  with  me." 

"  TVhy,  you  know  that  it  ain't  exactly  regular  to  take  hush- 
money,"  the  sergeant  said,  with  a  wishful  look. 

"  I  am  aware  of  it.  I  don't  intend  to  injure  your  feelings 
by  offering  money." 

The  fellow's  mouth  began  to  open,  and  a  frown  gathered 
on  his  brow ;  but  I  chased  it  away  in  an  instant,  by  pro- 
ducing the  small  silver  whistle  which  I  carried  in  my  pocket. 
It  was  an  emblem  of  authority,  used  only  by  those  of  high 
rank  in  the  department.     I  continued  :  — 

"  I  gave  the  signal  which  called  you  hither.  I  should  not 
have  done  it  if  I  had  not  thought  the  danger  imminent." 

"  Yes,  but  your  name  —  what  is  it  ? " 

I  mentioned  it  to  him,  or  rather  the  name  by  which  I  was 
known  in  the  department,  and  in  many  parts  of  Australia. 
The  man  was  astonished.  He  raised  his  cap  and  saluted  me 
in  the  most  respectful  manner. 

"  Am  I  at  liberty  to  go  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Certainly,  sir ;  and  your  friend  also,  or  whoever  you  wish 
should  go.     You  have  but  to  say  the  word." 

"  Thank  you." 

I  crossed  over,  and  put  my  arm  within  Sir  William's. 

'*  Come,"  I  said,  "  the  path  is  clear  at  last." 

The  people  assembled  outside  saluted  us  with  a  yell,  for  they 
thought  we  were  prisoners  ;  but  when  they  discovered  their 
mistake,  they  wanted  to  injure  us,  and  for  that  purpose 
threw  mud  and  stones  at  us.  They  were  indignant  to  think 
we  were  not  dragged  to  the  station,  as  some  of  them  had 
been  during  their  eventful  lives.  The  police,  who  had  mus- 
tered in  large  numbers,  beat  the  rascals  back,  and  enabled  us 
to  escape  from  Mud  Lane,  the  only  injury  infiicted  being 
spattered  with  dirt,  and  a  torn  coat. 
29 


338  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 


CHAPTER    LI. 

TEN      MINUTES     IN     JAIL.  A     BELLIGERENr     CABMAN.    —   k 

FIGHT    AND    KNOCK-DOWN. 

As  we  walked  along  the  well-lighted  street,  the  baronet's 
arm  still  within  my  own,  I  determined  to  press  him  and  dis- 
cover the  meaning  of  his  visit  to  the  Red  Lion. 

We  entered  a  hotel,  the  Nugget  House,  where  the  prices 
charged  were  fabulous,  and  where  Sir  William  was  quartered 
during  his  stay  in  the  city.  He  led  the  way  to  his  suit  of 
rooms  on  the  second  floor,  overlooking  the  street,  rang  the 
bell,  ordered  a  bottle  of  wine,  invited  me  to  a  seat,  gave  me 
cigars  from  which  to  take  my  choice,  and  then  induced  me 
to  talk  of  the  expedition  in  which  I  had  been  engaged,  and 
kept  me  so  well  employed  that  it  was  late  before  I  had  con- 
cluded my  yarn,  and  then  I  found  that  I  had  learned  nothing 
concerning  the  baronet's  visit  to  the  Red  Lion.  As  I  lighted 
a  fresh  cigar,  and  arose  to  go,  I  asked,  with  American  blunt- 
ness, — 

"  By  the  way.  Sir  William,  how  did  it  happen  that  I 
found  you  at  the  Red  Lion,  in  such  a  disguise  as  you  now 
wear  ? " 

"  0,  I  suppose  that  I  went  because  my  feet  took  me 
there ; "  and  the  baronet  laughed  in  such  a  genial  manner 
that  I  could  not  feel  offended. 

"  The  answer  is  not  so  direct  as  my  question,"  I  remarked. 

"  No,  it  is  not."  And  then  the  baronet  looked  at  me,  and 
I  returned  his  gaze. 

"  The  next  time  you  are  attacked  at  the  Red  Lion,"  I  re- 
ttiarked,  *'  I  shall  not  be  near  you  to  render  assistance ;  so  I 
would  avoid  it,  if  I  were  you." 

"  Perhaps  I  am  as  reckless  of  danger  as  yourself." 

"  You  should  not  be,  for  the  fire  of  youth  had  ought  to  be 
quenched  when  T^me  has  shaken  a  dredging-box  over  your 


TEN   MINUTES  IN  JAIL.  339 

"I  see  that  you  are  curious,  and  a  little  jealous.  Dcn't 
deny  it,  for  I  have  felt  it  all  along.  Acknowledge  that  when 
you  saw  me  talking  with  Jenny,  you  were  at  first  inclined  to 
let  me  sufi'er  at  the  hands  of  those  bar-room  loafers  ;  yet 
while  you  entertained  those  hard  thoughts,  I  was  doing  nV 
that  I  could  to  improve  your  standing  in  the  girl's  estima- 
tion." 

"  And  did  you  succeed  ?  " 

I  was  so  eager  in  asking  the  question,  that  the  baronet 
(smiled  in  a  tantalizing  manner. 

**  Well,  perhaps  I  did.  How  can  I  tell  ?  Who  can  fathom 
a  young  girl's  heart  ?  It  is  too  deep  for  man's  understand- 
ing. I  will  not  tell  you  all  that  transpired  at  our  interview, 
but  your  interests  did  not  suffer,  and  I  think  that  you  stand 
in  a  better  light  than  ever." 

I  bowed  and  smiled,  and  then  the  baronet  looked  more 
serious  than  I  ever  saw  him  look  as  he  continued  :  "  Do  not 
let  what  I  have  said  induce  you  to  take  advantage  of  the 
girl's  position  in  society.  I  have  an  interest  in  her  welfare, 
and  shall  watch  over  her  personally,  or  else  by  agents." 

"  And  may  I  ask  what  that  interest  is  ?  " 

*'  Certainly,  you  can  ask,  but  I  am  not  yet  prepared  to 
answer.  But  you  can  rest  assured  on  one  point,  and  that  is, 
that  I  have  not  been  making  love  to  the  girl,  and  that  I  have 
no  such  intention." 

I  took  up  my  hat,  and  made  signs  of  departing. 

"If  you  must  go,  let  us  shake  hands  before  we  part. 
Gocd  night.  I  shall  see  you  to-morrow,  for  I  have  business 
that  will  detain  me  in  town  for  some  days.  I  will  call  foi 
you  in  the  afternoon,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  dine  with  me." 

I  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  Sir  William  continued: 
"  Your  friends,  Mr.  Hopeful  and  Mr.  Commissioner  Murden, 
lire  included  in  the  invitation.  I  should  be  delighted  to  see 
them." 

"  I  will  deliver  your  invitation,  and  promise  that  it  shall 
bo  accepted ;  "  and  with  these  words  I  left  the  baronet,  and 
walked  home,  as  much  mystified  as  ever. 

Hopeful  and  Murden  exchanged  significant  glances  when 
23 


340  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

1  entered  the  house,  but  said  not  a  word  as  to  whero  1 
had  been.  I  simply  informed  them  that  I  had  seen  Sii 
"^Villiam,  and  that  he  had  requested  the  pleasure  of  our  com- 
pany at  dinner  the  next  day,  at  the  hotel ;  but  I  did  not  in- 
form my  friends  under  what  circumstances  the  invitation  was 
issued,  or  relate  the  conversation  that  had  taken  place  be- 
tween us. 

The  next  morning,  as  the  sun  was  out  hot  and  strong,  I 
L-alled  a  cab,  and  told  the  driver  to  carry  me  to  the  prison. 
The  governor  of  the  prison  was  a  large  man,  bald-headed, 
red-nosed,  as  though  beer  and  brandy  were  favorite  drinks 
during  his  official  career. 

"  Well,  sir,  what  is  it  ? "  he  asked,  as  soon  as  I  appeared, 
as  though  already  tired  of  my  company. 

"  You  have  a  woman,  called  Mother  Brown,  confined  here 
on  the  charge  of  drunkenness  ? " 

The  governor  did  not  commit  himself  by  a  direct  answer ; 
he  merely  said,  "  Well  ? " 

"If  she  is  here,  I  desire  to  pay  her  fine  and  release  her," 
I  continued. 

"  For  what  purpose  do  you  want  the  woman  }  "  the  gov- 
ernor asked,  after  a  few  moments'  silence. 

"  Is  it  necessary  that  I  should  answer  all  your  questions  ? " 
I  demanded. 

''It  is,  sir." 

"  Well,  go  on  and  ask,  and  soon  have  an  ending,  for  I 
have  business  elsewhere,"  I  replied. 

"  What  kind  of  business  ? " 

The  question  was  so  blunt  that  I  was  entirely  taken  by 
surprise;  and  before  I  had  time  to  think,  I  replied,  with 
C(ime  little  arrogance,  *'  That  is  none  of  your  aff'air,  sir." 

The  governor  started  back,  horrified  at  the  reply.  At  fust 
be  could  hardly  believe  his  ears,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
polish  his  nose  to  collect  his  thoughts ;  and  when  he  had 
found  them,  he  roared,  — 

"  Out  of  this,  you  gallus-bird,  afore  I  locks  yer  up." 

I  did  not  move  or  look  frightened,  although  the  governor 
expected  me  to. 


A  BELLIGERENT  CABMAN.  341 

**  Out  with  him,"  roared  the  governor,  and  pointed  at  me. 
"  Chuck  him  out,"  he  said. 

"  Wait  one  moment,"  I  cried,  just  as  the  men  were  about 
to  rush  on  ma.  The  ruffians  paused,  and  looked  at  the  gov- 
ernor, and  the  latter  looked  at  me. 

"  What  is  it }  "  the  red-faced  official  asked. 

*'  I  demand  the  right  to  leave  this  place  unmolested.  If 
I  am  assaulted,  I  shall  defend  myself  in  the  best  way  that  I 
can,  and  you  must  suffer  the  consequences." 

'*  Why,  you  cursed  —  " 

I  did  not  stop  to  hear  the  remainder  of  the  sentence ;  for 
I  suddenly  stepped  backward,  touched  the  spring  of  the  door 
that  led  to  the  court,  threw  it  open,  and  passed  out  in  as 
dignified  a  manner  as  I  could.  I  had  proceeded  but  a  few 
steps  when  I  heard  the  door  open,  and  the  governor  shout 
after  me,  — 

"  You  scoundrel !  the  next  time  you  come  here  I'll  lock 
you  up." 

"  We  shall  see,"  I  answered  in  a  confident  manner,  and 
entered  the  cab  that  was  waiting  for  me. 

"  Yes,  we  shall  see ; "  and  the  governor  slammed  to  the 
door. 

''  Where  to,  sir  ?  "  asked  cabby. 

"  The  city  haU." 

"  0,  you  vants  to  go  among  the  big  vigs,  do  you  ?  Veil, 
recollect  I  ain't  done  nothin'  vot  calls  for  a  fine.  Now,  you 
knows  it,  don't  you  ? " 

"  Drive  on,"  I  said  ;  "  I  don't  want  to  talk  so  much.  You 
bother  me  with  your  slang." 

"  Veil,  if  this  ain't  high  old  times,  then  I'm  bio  wed  ! " 
and  muttering  his  disgust,  he  mounted  his  box,  and  lashad 
hvA  .steed  into  a  run. 

As  I  left  the  cab  at  the  hall,  the  driver  looked  particularly 
disgusted  and  puzzled  at  the  same  time. 

"  Look  a-here,"  he  asked  ;  "  is  you  goin'  to  complain  of 
me.  'Cos  if  ye  is,  I'll  fight  yer  for  the  beer,  and  no  favors 
axod  on  either  side  ;  or  I'll  fight  yer  for  half  a  crown,  mouej 
tip." 


842  THE  BUSHRANGERS 

All  this  display  of  ill-temper  was  on  account  of  my  refiis. 
ing  to  furnish  him  with  drink-money. 

*'  How  much  is  your  bill  ?  "  I  asked.  "  I  will  pay  it,  and 
let  you  go.     You  are  too  excitable  for  me." 

"  Ten  shillin's,"  was  the  answer. 

I  knew  that  was  just  double  the  legal  charge. 

"  Here  are  six  shillings,"  I  answered.  "  Take  them  or  go 
without  your  pay." 

He  dashed  the  silver  to  the  sidewalk,  and  called  me  a 
thief  and  a  swindler,  and  all  that  was  vile  and  hateful ;  and, 
as  I  turned  away  from  him,  he  construed  the  action  into 
cowardice ;  so  he  sprang  forward,  and  laid  his  hands  upon 
my  shoulders,  thinking  that  he  could  give  me  a  lift,  and 
sprawl  me  on  the  sidewalk.  I  swerved  a  little,  turning  so 
quickly  that  his  plans  were  frustrated.  This  brought  me 
face  to  face  with  the  fellow,  and  for  the  space  of  one  second 
we  glared  at  each  other.  Then  I  made  a  sudden  blow,  and 
down  the  rascal  went.  He  struggled  to  his  feet,  roaring  and 
swearing  like  a  fiend.  On  he  came,  thinking  that  this  time 
he  would  demolish  me  ;  but  he  was  never  more  mistaken,  for 
I  stepped  one  side,  out  of  his  course,  and  then  planted  a 
crushing  blow  just  under  his  left  ear.  He  went  over  with  a 
rush.  I  don't  know  how  it  would  have  fared  with  me  at  the 
hands  of  the  cabmen  who  were  in  the  vicinity ;  for  it  is  prob- 
able that  they  would  have  avenged  their  comrade's  injuries, 
had  not  Murden  run  down  the  steps  of  the  city  hall,  and 
placed  himself  at  my  side. 

"Yes,  sir,  that's  him;  that's  the  cove  vot  done  it,"  said 
ihe  injured  man,  sitting  up  on  the  sidewalk,  thinking  I 
was  under  arrest.  "I'll  take  my  oath  of  him.  He's  the 
cove." 

"I  saw  the  whole  of  it,  Barney,"  the  commiss.ioner  re- 
plied.  "  You  can't  bKnd  me.  You  commenced  the  assault; 
and  for  it  I  take  away  your  license." 

"  Come  in  and  see  us,"  said  Murden,  passing  his  aric 
through  mine ;  and  up  the  steps  we  went. 


MOTHER  BROWN'S   CONFESSION  343 


CHAPTER   LII. 

MOIBEB    BROWNS    PARDON,  HER    CONFESSION. MY 

ASTONISHMENT. 

We  entered  a  room  where  there  were  officials  of  high  anii 
low  degree,  who  had  congregated  for  the  purpose  of  hearing 
the  commissioner's  account  of  his  doings  during  his  absence. 
We  were  congratulated  on  our  exploits,  and  asked  innumer- 
able questions  ;  but  at  length  I  remembered  Mother  Brown, 
and  the  object  of  my  visit  to  the  city  hall,  and  then  I  related 
the  particulars  of  my  interview  with  old  Harry,  the  governor 
of  the  prison. 

"  I'll  tell  you  how  to  spite  him,"  said  one  of  the  upper 
secretaries  to  a  cabinet  officer.  "  We'll  have  the  woman 
pardoned  out,  and  then  old  Harry  will  lose  his  regular  fees. 
That  will  worry  him  in  the  most  fearful  manner." 

All  in  the  room  shouted  out  their  approval  of  the  plan, 
and  the  secretary  started  off  to  find  his  chief  and  obtain  a 
pardon. 

"  Old  Harry,"  a  young  man  said,  '*  will  tear  his  hair  out 
when  he  reads  the  order.  He  won't  be  able  to  relish  his 
beer  for  a  month.  Ha,  ha !  I'd  like  to  see  him  when  he 
fully  comprehends  the  meaning  of  the  discharge." 

In  the  course  of  an  hour  the  secretary  returned,  with  the 
order  in  due  form.  It  was  handed  to  me ;  and  then  two 
or  three  of  the  young  men  offered  to  accompany  me  to  the 
jail ;  but  I  declined  their  services,  because  I  knew  that  I  had 
much  to  say  to  Mother  Brown,  all  of  a  confidential  nature. 
In  ten  minutes  I  was  at  the  gates  of  the  prison,  and  the  next 
moment  I  had  entered  the  gloomy  building. 

"  You  'ere  agin  ?"  asked  one  of  the  turnkeys,  with  a  l3ok 
of  surprise. 

"Yes,  I  am  here  again,"  was  my  quiet  answer. 

"  Vel,  you'd  better  not  let  the  hold  man  see  yer.  No,  I 
should  think  not." 


344  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

As  I  did  not  manifest  the  least  alarm,  the  turnkey  looked 
up  from  the  stone  floor,  which  he  had  appeared  to  regard  in 
the  light  of  an  enemy,  and  asked,  "  Ain't  you  goin'  to  cut 
and  run  for  i*:  ?  " 

"  For  what  reason  ? "  I  demanded. 

"  0,  'cos  if  the  hold  man  should  see  yer,  he  might  pitch 
in,  you  know." 

"I'm  not  in  the  least  alarmed.  In  fact  I  mean  to  wait 
here  until  I  see  him." 

Just  at  this  instant  the  door  opened  and  the  governor 
entered.  He  had  been  refreshing  himself  with  beer;  but 
the  extract  of  hops  had  not  modified  his  temper  in  the  least, 
for  he  uttered  a  roar  and  a  growl  when  he  saw  me. 

"  Out  with  him  !  "  shouted  the  enraged  governor.  "  Knock 
him  down,  somebody." 

As  "  somebody"  didn't  make  his  appearance  to  carry  out 
the  behest,  I  was  enabled  to  call  the  governor's  attention  to 
the  paper  which  I  held  in  my  hand. 

"  It's  a  begging  petition,"  the  red-faced  man  said.  '*  It's 
no  use.     It  won't  change  my  opinion  in  the  least." 

"  If  you  will  have  the  kindness  to  look  at  the  paper,"  I 
said,  "  you  will  see  that  it  contains  the  governor's  signature." 

"  Hey  !  what  is  that  ?  "  and  the  official  snatched  the  paper 
from  my  hand,  and  glanced  over  it  in  a  rapid  manner. 

His  red  face  paled  at  the  signatures  which  met  his  eye. 
He  could  hardly  believe  his  own  senses  ;  and,  as  he  read,  he 
muttered,  — 

"A  full  —  pardon  —  no  —  fees  —  no  money  —  no  chance 
to  make  —  even  expenses.     It's  a  d — d  outrage." 

"I  shall  have- to  report  such  language  to  the  governor,"  1 
/3markcd,  hardly  able  to  keep  from  laughing. 

"I'm  sure  you're  too  much  of  a  gentleman  to  do  that," 
the  man  said,  changing  in  an  instant  from  the  rude  bar- 
barian to  the  grovelling  snob,  which  I  disliked  as  much  as  I 
did  the  tyrant. 

"  Will  you  release  the  woman  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  will.  Here,  Sam,  make  out  Mother  Bro^^n's 
discharge." 


MOTHER  BROWN'S  CONFESSION.  34S 

I  did  not  care  to  encounter  Mother  Brown  in  the  presence 
of  the  governor  and  his  officers  ;  so  I  asked  them  to  send  her 
to  the  carriage.  In  ten  minutes'  time  Mother  Brown  wad- 
dled from  the  doors  of  the  prison,  stared  around  as  though 
still  laboring  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  appeared  unde- 
cided which  way  to  turn,  and  at  last  saw  my  face,  and  came 
towards  me,  grinning  from  ear  to  ear. 

"Ah,  it's  yer,  is  it?"  she  said.  "I  might  have  knowed 
that  no  one  but  yer  would  do  it." 

Without  waiting  for  an  invitation,  she  entered  the  car- 
riage, and  planted  her  substantial  form  on  the  seat  opposite 
me,  and  then,  taking  one  of  my  hands  in.  both  of  her  own, 
kissed  it,  in  spite  of  my  resistance.  Suddenly  she  dropped 
my  hand,  and  snuffed  the  air,  which  was  impregnated  with 
the  odor  of  tobacco. 

*'  Ah,"  she  cried,  "  that  smells  something  like.  You  haven't 
a  pipe  ? " 

"  No." 

*'  Then  a  weed  will  do.  I  hope  they  is  strong.  Give  me 
the  blackest  one  you  has." 

I  handed  her  a  cigar  that  would  have  made  a  Dutchman 
sick  in  less  than  five  minutes.  She  lighted  it,  and  puffed 
away  with  perfect  content  for  a  while. 

''  That  prison's  a  cussed  hole,"  she  said  at  last.  "  They 
won't  allow  smokin'." 

She  puffed  in  silence  for  a  moment.  I  saw  that  the 
turnkeys  were  grinning  at  us  through  the  bars  of  the  prison ; 
so  I  told  the  cabman  to  drive  on  at  a  slow  pace. 

"  You  sent  word  that  you  had  something  which  you  desirc'l 
to  communicate  to  me,"  I  remarked,  as  soon  as  she  had  be- 
come a  little  calm. 

"  Yes ;  I  want  to  talk  to  yer.  I  want  to  tell  yer  how 
wicked  I  has  been,  and  what  I  has  done." 

"  And  I  don't  want  to  hear  it.     I  am  not  a  confessor." 

"  Ah,  what  things  you  men  is  !  You  can't  wait  a  moment, 
unless  a  pretty  girl  is  in  the  case  ;  then  yer  smile  and  bow, 
and  scrape  and  cringe,  and  kiss  the  ground  on  which  she 
walks.     O,  ye5«." 


?46  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  You  old  fool,"  ]  said,  losing  all  patience,  "  you  must 
recollect  that  you  are  neither  young  nor  pretty ;  so  you  can- 
not wonder  if  I  show  a  little  restlessness." 

"  Ah,  but  I  knows  a  lass  what  is  young,  plump,  and 
pretty." 

"  Well,  what  has  that  to  do  with  me  ?  " 

"  It  depends  upon  yerself  to  say.  I  want  yer  to  marry 
her.  Ah,  that  word  makes  the  blood  mount  to  yer  cheeks, 
and  yer  heart  go  pitapat." 

I  was  silent,  for  I  knew  whom  the  old  woman  meant. 
Why  did  she  want  me  to  marry  Jenny  ?  What  interest  had 
she  in  the  business  ?  I  could  not  comprehend  her  and  her 
mysterious  ways.  I  lighted  a  fresh  cigar,  and  obedient  to 
the  woman's  motions,  handed  her  one.  She  was  rather  fond 
of  tobacco,  I  thought,  judging  from  the  manner  in  which  she 
rolled  the  weed  about  her  mouth ;  but  I  pardoned  the  fact 
when  I  recollected  that  she  had  lived  for  so  many  years  in 
the  midst  of  reckless  men. 

"  Now,"  said  Mother  Brown,  as  soon  as  her  cigar  was 
fairly  lighted,  "  I  suppose  that  yer  want  to  know  my  great 
secret." 

"  If  you  have  one." 

It  was  an  unfortunate  answer,  for  she  commenced  a  tirade 
of  abuse  for  my  suspicions,  but  calmed  down  when  she  found 
that  I  did  not  take  any  notice  of  her  words.  As  soon  as  she 
had  run  down,  I  said,  "  Now  for  the  secret.  Mother  Brown." 

"  Yes,  now  for  it.  But  fust  tell  me  one  thing  —  do  yer 
love  the  blue-eyed  Jenny^?  " 

I  stammered  over  the  question. 

"  1  mean,  well  enough  to  take  her  for  a  wife ;  that's  what 
J  mean." 

"  Under  some  circumstances,  I  think  that  I  should." 

"  Yer  as  proud  as  the  divil ! "  the  old  hag  remarked,  in  a 
blunt  tone.  "  Yer  men  must  have  all  the  accomplishments 
as  well  as  money,  or  yer  turn  up  yer  noses.  Yer  know  if  s 
so,  man  that  yer  are.  But  answer  the  question,  and  look 
alive  about  it ;  'cos  on  yer  answer  depends  the  secret  Fio 
abou'i  to  tell  yer." 


MOTHER  BROWN'S   CONFESSION.  347 

"  Well,  then,  if  Jenny  was  accomplished  and  intelligent, 
t  should  love  her  well  enough  to  take  her , for  a  wife,  even 
mthout  a  cent  of  money ;  as  she  is  not,  I  shall  have  to 
ihink  the  matter  over  for  seme  time  before  I  act." 

"  And  in  the  mean  time  attempt  to  make  her  yer  mistress. 
Bat  I     Yer  can't  do  it." 

She  chewed  away  at  her  cigar  for  some  time,  and  seemed 
nn decided  what  to  say,  but  at  last  burst  out  with,  "  I  know 
yer  love  her ;  so  I'll  tell  yer  all  about  it.  Stop  the  carriage 
under  the  trees  out  there  where  there's  some  shade,  and  I'll 
begin." 

I  shall  not  give  Mother  Brown's  words  in  this  chapter,  be- 
cause she  will  h?-ve  to  repeat  them  in  the  presence  of  other 
people,  and  then  I  will  introduce  them.  At  length  the  old 
woman  ceased,  and  then  I  had  time  to  ask,  — 

"  Is  this  true  that  you  have  told  me  ? " 

*'  Do  yer  s'pose  I'd  teU  yer  a  lie,  when  I  knowed  yer 
could  prove  it  was  a  lie  ?  I  has  spoken  the  truth,  and  yer 
shall  acknowledge  it  afore  many  days." 

*'  You  must  acknowledge  it  at  once,"  I  cried.  "  This  very 
day  you  must  prove  to  Sir  William  and  me  that  you  have 
uttered  true  words." 

"  So  soon  ? "     The  woman  shuddered. 

*'  Why  do  you  hesitate  ? " 

-*  I  dread  the  anger  of  the  Pet.  He  will  kill  me  if  he  can 
lay  his  hands  on  me." 

"  But  we  will  take  care  that  he  does  nothing  of  the  kind. 
We  will  look  after  him,  and  see  that  you  are  not  hurt." 

*  But  what  shall  I  say  to  Sir  William  ?  "  The  woman  put 
her  face  to  her  hands,  and  I  saw  tears  stealing  down  through 
her  fingers. 

"  Tell  your  story  just  as  you  have  told  it  to  me.  Tell  him 
how  you  were  tempted,  and  fell,  and  perhaps  even  he  will 
forgive  you,  although  I  should  not  blame  him  if  he  did  not." 

"  I  has  wronged  him,  and  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  right 
him,"  Mother  Brown  said  at  length.  "  Just  tell  me  what  to 
do,  and  I'll  do  it." 

"  Then  promise  that  you  will  not  touch  liquor  until  I  offer 


348  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

it  to  you.  When  you  appear  before  Sir  Willi im  you  must 
be  sober  and  trujtbful." 

Sbe  gave  a  reluctant  promise,  and  then  I  recalled  the 
driver,  and  told  him  to  take  me  to  Murden's  place,  where  I 
could  keep  the  woman  under  lock  and  key  until  I  wanted  her. 

In  a  short  time,  Murden  and  Hopeful  returned  to  the  house 
to  dress  for  dinner.  Both  of  them  were  in  good  spirits,  but 
to  neither  did  I  say  one  word  about  Mother  Brown  and  her 
presence  in  the  house.  I  thought  I  would  sury  rise  them 
when  the  proper  moment  arrived,  and  I  think,  all  thing!" 
considered,  that  I  cud.  We  made  our  toilets,  dressing  like 
gentlemen,  not  gold-diggers,  with  gloves,  patent-leather 
boots,  white  shirts,  and  black  coats  (terrible  uncomfortable 
things  in  Australia),  and  then  rode  to  the  Nugget  House, 
where  we  were  shown  to  Sir  William's  room  without  delay, 
and  welcomed  by  the  baronet  in  the  most  hospitable  manner. 
But  as  we  passed  into  the  room,  there  glided  from  it  one  of 
the  most  desperate  characters  known  to  the  Mud-Laners 
it  was  the  "  Brazen  Boy,"  a  ticket-of-leave  man. 


CHAPTER  LHI. 


THE    BAHONEt's    COI^FESSION. A    COMPAKING    OF    NOTES. 

THE    LOST    CHILD. A    TABLEAU. 

I  SAW  that  Murden  gave  the  tickct-of-leave  man  a  f  harp 
look  as  we  entered  Sir  William's  apartment,  at  the  Nugget 
House ;  but  the  Brazen  Boy  returned  the  glance  without 
manifesting  the  least  confusion  or  guilt.  He  seemed  to  say 
that  he  had  a  right  in  the  room,  and  cared  nothing  for  the 
police  of  Melbourne,  even  if  the  leading  commissioner  did 
scowl  at  him.  As  the  Brazen  Boy  (named  thus  for  his  im- 
pudence by  those  appreciative  people,  the  Mud-L.aners) 
passed  down  the  stairs,  Murden  said  to  Sir  William,  — 

"Beg  pardon,  sir,  but  pf  course  you  haven't  lest  any* 
thing,  have  you  ?  " 


THE  BRAZEN  BOY.  34*^ 

'*  0,  lio,"  returned  the  baronet,  with  a  slight  expressioD 
y£  annoyance. 

"Sure  your  gold  watch  is  in  your  pocket?"  persisted 
Murden. 

*'  Quite  sure,  sir." 

"  And  no  bank  notes  missing  ?  If  they  are  gone,  new  is 
the  time  to  let  me  know." 

*'  0,  no,  nothing  is  lost ;   I  am  positive." 

Murden  would  have  insisted  upon  running  after  the  Brazen 
Boy,  and  searching  him ;  but  I  stopped  him  by  an  emphatio 
pinch,  for  I  saw  at  a  glance  that  Sir  William  had  some  secret 
connection  with  the  ticket-of-leave  man,  and  did  not  want  it 
revealed  even  to  the  police  commissioner,  or  his  friend  who 
had  saved  him  the  honor  of  a  beating  in  the  Red  Lion. 
Dinner  was  soon  served  up,  and  for  an  Australian  hotel 
dinner,  it  was  a  fair  one,  although  a  Boston  host  would  have 
cried  for  very  shame,  if  such  a  jumble  of  food  had  been 
displayed  on  his  tables.  The  liquor  unloosened  Murden's 
tongue.     He  commenced  talking  as  I  feared  he  would. 

"  It  is  a  peculiar  thing.  Sir  "William,"  he  said,  "  to  find  a 
man  like  you,  of  wealth  and  influence,  in  such  a  helter- 
skelter  country  as  this.  There's  nothing  to  be  seen  here 
that's  worth  seeing.  No  racing,  no  prize-fights,  no  boating, 
but  little  cricket,  no  nothing  that  rich  men  take  to.  In  fact 
we  are  not  celebrated  for  even  possessing  handsome  women. 
There's  only  one  real  beauty  in  all  Melbourne,  and  she's  low, 
although  I  am  fearful  that  Mr.  Jack  will  feel  angry  with  me 
for  saying  so." 

I  made  no  reply. 

Murden  continued  :  *'  Come,  Mr.  Jack,  acknowledge  that 
you  like  the  girl  —  tha^.  you  have  run  some  risks  to  see  her, 
and  that  you  will  do  so  igain." 

"I  have  a  high  opin'^on  of  the  young  girl's  virtue  and 
fair  face,"  I  remarked.  "  Let  that  satisfy  you.  She  has 
beauty  enough  to  grace  any  station ;  but  she  is  certainly  de- 
Geient  in  one  thing  —  her  education." 

"  Yes,   she's  ignorant,  that  is    true ;  but   she   could   he 


550  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

learned.  Take  her  for  a  wife,  and  see  how  you  could  train 
ner.     Be  quick  about  it,  or  you'll  lose  her." 

'*  I  will  think  6f  your  advice,"  I  remarked,  "  and  the 
more  seriously,  because  I,  this  day,  heard  something  in  rela- 
tion to  the  girl's  history  that  surprised  me." 

Sir  William  was  about  to  raise  a  glass  of  wine  to  his  lips ; 
but  I  saw  his  hand  tremble,  and  he  put  it  down  untasted. 

"  You're  allers  hearin'  somethin'  about  the  women,'* 
growled  Hez. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  demanded  Murden.  "  Has  she  left  her 
father,  and  eloped  with  a  ticket-of-leave  man  ?  " 

I  knew  that  this  was  torturing  Sir  William ;  so  I  hastened 
to  relieve  him  as  much  as  possible. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  I  said,  "  and  don't  interrupt  me." 

''  A  romance  is  coming,"  said  the  commissioner,  and  filled 
his  glass. 

"  Or  a  mighty  tough  yarn.  He's  the  greatest  man  for 
adventures,"  muttered  Hopeful,  and  lighted  a  fresh  cigar. 

"  VvTiat  should  you  think,"  I  remarked,  "  if  I  told  you 
that  a  young  girl  was  in  this  city  whose  parents  rank  among 
the  aristocracy  of  England  ? " 

The  commissioner  uttered  a  scornful  sniff. 

"  The  girl  whom  I  allude  to  has  no  respectable  station  in 
Blelbourne  society.  She  has  no  rich  and  influential  friends 
that  she  is  aware  of;  she  is  constantly  surrounded  by  all  that 
is  vile,  and  yet  she  is  of  good  birth." 

Sir  William  was  terribly  agitated,  yet  managed  to  conceal 
it  from  my  friends.  He  listened  with  avidity  to  all  that  I 
Baid,  and  appeared  impatient  for  me  to  continue. 

*'  Bah  !  a  romance,"  said  Murden. 

"  Bah  !  two  or  three  of  'em,"  Hopeful  remarked. 

That  young  man  was  growing  intoxicated  very  fast. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Sir  William,  in  a  low,  trembling,  yet 
earnest  voice,  *'  I  am  interested  in  our  friend's  remarks. 
Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  allow  me  to  listen  to  them  ? 
Perhaps  what  he  says  is  not  such  a  romance  as  ypu  think." 

"  O,  certainly.  Sir  William,"  the  commissioner  replied, 
widi  all  an  Englishman's  deference  for  rank  and  wealth.     '*  I 


THE  BARONET'S  CONFESSION.  351 

did  not  for  a  moment  suppose  that  you  cared  tc  heai  the 
yarn.     We  will  keep  silent,  Sir  William  —  nevcT  fear." 

"  Two  or  three  fears,"  muttered  that  wretched  Hez. 

The  baronet  motioned  for  me  to  continue. 

"  How  I  became  acquainted  with  the  young  girl  does  not 
matter  —  " 

"  0,  but  it  does,  though,"  muttered  Hopeful.  "  Make  a 
full  confession.  He  always  was  the  devil  among  the  petti- 
;;oats." 

"  Peihaps,"  said  Sir  William,  "  we  had  better  talk  thia 
matter  over  in  another  apartment.  Will  you  follow  me,  if 
you  please  ? " 

I  arose  and  left  the  room,  leaving  the  commissioner  cha- 
grined at  Hopeful's  interruption.  The  police  officer  wanted 
to  hear  the  communication  that  I  had  to  make.  As  soon  as 
Sir  William  had  closed  the  door,  he  said,  his  voice  no  longer 
firm, — 

'*  I  suspect  that  you  have  obtained  some  knowledge  of  my 
secret,  although  in  what  manner  I  cannot  comprehend,  for  I 
have  not  lisped  a  word  to  you." 

"  I  am  aware  you  have  not ;  but  perhaps  it  would  have 
been  better  if  you  had,"  I  responded. 

"  Tell  me  what  you  know,"  the  baronet  said,  in  an  impe- 
rious tone,  as  though  I  was  bound  to  obey  him. 

"  If  you  speak  in  that  style  I  shall  decline  to  answer  you, 
or  hold  further  communication  with  you  on  the  subject." 

"  I  forgot  you  are  an  American  —  pray  excuse  me ; "  and 
the  Englishman  held  out  his  hand,  which  I  took,  and  was 
reconciled. 

"  Now,  let  us  talk  this  matter  over  in  as  calm  a  manner 
aG  I  can  ccmmand,"  Sir  William  said.  I  had  no  objection 
to  tkat. 

"In  the  first  place,"  he  continued,  his  dark-blue  eyes 
.coking  tender  and  appealing,  "  you  will  tell  me  all  you  know 
on  the  subject." 

"  Provided  we  exchange  confidences,"  I  replied. 

"  Agreed."  We  looked  at  each  other  in  silence,  each 
waifang  for  the  other  to  begin. 


S52  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  "Well,"  said  Sir  William,  seeing  that  I  did  not  speak, 
"  let  me  state,  in  tlie  mo.it  frank  and  reliable  manner,  tliat  I 
have  visited  Australia  for  tlie  purpose  of  finding  a  lost 
ilaugLter.'* 

"  Anv*  you  think  that  you  have  found  her  ^ " 

"  I  think  that  I  have." 

He  uttered  a  deep  sigh,  as  though  he  was  not  fully  satis* 
fi'^d  in  his  own  luind  that  it  would  not  have  been  better  nevei 
tj  have  discovered  any  trace  of  her  existence. 

"  I  am  certain,"  I  remarked,  in  a  confidential  tone,  "  that 
the  young  girl  called  Jenny  is  your  daughter,  and  that  she 
is  not  in  the  least  related  to  the  Manchester  Pet,  although 
he  calls  her  his  child." 

It  was  some  moments  before  the  baronet  could  recover 
from  his  agitation.    At  last  he  raised  his  head,  and  asked, — 

"  How  have  you  made  your  discoveries  ?  Tell  me  all  the 
circumstances,  so  that  I  need  not  grope  in  the  dark." 

*'  Do  you  recollect,  twenty  years  ago,  at  your  residence  in 
Lancaster,  England,  that  among  your  domestics  was  one 
named  Mary  Brown  ? " 

*'  Yes,  I  have  a  distinct  remembrance  of  her.  She  was  a 
pretty,  rash,  headstrong  thing,  and  did  not  listen  to  the 
advice  which  I  gave  her.  She  left  my  service  years  ago,  and 
is  dead,  I  suppose." 

"  No,  she  is  still  alive,  but  so  changed  that  you  would  not 
know  her.  The  old  woman  whom  you  saw  at  the  cave, 
hideous,  repulsive,  and  dirty,  was  the  same  one  who  left 
your  service  twenty  years  since." 

"  Yes  ;  but  what  has  she  to  do  with  me  } " 

*'Much.  You  recollect  that  you  attempted  to  give  her 
tome  goo^  advice,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  I  think  that  I  did  caution  her  against  the  advances  of  a 
ruffian  known  as  a  prize-fighter,  and  called  the  Manchester 
Vet.  The  girl  was  infatuated  with  the  brute,  although  she 
knew  that  he  was  a  married  man." 

"  ^ou  have  a  good  memory.  Sir  William.  What  you  have 
stated  is  correct." 

**  O,  yes ;  it  is  not  difficult  to  recall  such  things  to  my  mind." 


A  COMPARING  OF  NOTES.  35A 

"  And  jou  would  remember  the  prize-fighter  if  you  should 
see  him  again  ? " 

"  Of  course  ;  a  man  of  his  stature  and  peculiar  looks  is  not 
easily  forgotten.  I  have  seen  the  fellow  several  times  since 
I  have  been  in  this  country^  He  keeps  the  saloon  called  the 
FicJ  Lion,  where  you  saw  me  last  night  in  conversation  wUh 
the  girl,  Miss  Jenny." 

"  He  does  not  recollect  you  ? "  I  asked. 

"  No  ;  and  I  don't  mean  that  he  shall,  just  at  present.  I! 
h'^  should  hear  my  name  he  would  know  me  immediately. 
Twenty  years  have  changed  me,  making  an  old  man  out  of 
a  young  one." 

"  Before  I  relate  to  you  what  I  know,  will  you  be  kind 
enough  to  tell  me  the  relations  which  existed  between  your- 
self and  the  Pet  ? " 

'*  Certainly,  although  it  may  cost  me  a  blush  to  do  so.  At 
one  time,  before  I  was  married  and  settled  down  to  be  a 
devoted  Benedict,  the  Pet  and  I  were  great  friends,  and  de- 
voted to  each  other ;  that  is,  I  backed  him  in  his  fights,  and 
he  backed  me  in  all  the  rows  and  nonsense  into  which  I 
entered.  Of  course  he  was  often  at  my  house,  and  there 
saw  Mary  Brown,  and  took  a  fancy  to  her  ;  and  the  wench 
was  captivated  by  his  bruised  face  and  giant  form.  She 
knew  that  the  Pet  was  married,  but  it  made  no  difference  to 
her ;  and  at  last  I  had  to  order  the  prize-fighter  from  the 
house,  for  the  purpose  of  saving  the  girl.  Shortly  after- 
wards I  married,  and  then  dropped  all  connection  with  the 
Pet ;  but  Molly  Brown  did  not,  for  she  met  the  man  quite 
frequently,  unknown  to  me  and  to  the  rest  of  my  family. 
I  had  a  daughter  born  to  me  —  a  beautiful  child ;  and  when 
she  was  two  years  of  age  the  Pet  met  with  some  misfortunes. 
Then  he  sent  for  me,  ^and  wanted  money.  I  declined  to  see 
him,  but  forwarded  a  hundred  pounds  for  his  relief;  and  the 
next  that  I  heard  of  him  he  was  sentenced  to  transportation. 
Once  more  he  appealed  to  me  ;  but  his  appeal  was  useless. 
I  did  not  answer  it ;  and  that  was  the  last  I  heard  of  tha 
prize-fighter  until  I  saw  him  in  Melbourne." 

These  few  words  had  imravelled  the  mystery,  and  cor- 


354  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

roborated  Mother  Brown's  statement.  But  I  was  jauiiouSv 
and  determined  to  proceed  step  bj  step. 

*'  Your  daughter,  when  she  was  two  years  old,  disap- 
peared, did  she  not  ?  "  I  asked. 

Sir  William  was  so  agitated  that  he  could  not  speak  for  a 
moment ;  and,  while  he  was  struggling  with  his  feelings,  I 
saw  tears  stealing  from  his  eyes  and  mingle  with  his  beard. 

"  Yes,  she  disappeared  ;  but  in  what  manner  we  could  net 
tell,"  the  baronet  answered,  after  a  long  pause.  "  "We  sup- 
posed  that  the  gypsies  had  taken  her ;  but  a  large  reward, 
and  a  careful  examination  of  every  tribe  in  England,  failed 
to  produce  her.  Then  I  feared  that  she  had  been  drowned ; 
but  every  stream  was  searched,  and  we  failed  to  discover  her 
body.  At  last  we  gave  her  up.  From  that  time  until  within 
a  year  we  have  mourned  her  as  dead." 

"  Can  you  recollect  whether  Molly  Brown  left  your  service 
before  or  after  the  child  was  lost  ?  " 

"  Some  two  weeks  before." 

"  Are  you  positive  ? " 

"  Quite  so.  I  remember  that  she  expressed  the  greatest 
regret  at  leaving  the  child,  and  asked  permission  to  kiss  it 
before  she  quitted  the  house." 

Here  was  more  and  more  startling  confirmation.  I  could 
only  command  my  feelings  by  a  powerful  effort,  so  that  I 
could  continue  the  conversation.  Sir  William  noticed  my 
agitation,  and  extended  his  hand. 

"  You  feel  this  as  keenly  as  myself,"  he  said.  "  I  thank 
you  for  the  interest  you  have  taken  in  my  affairs.  It  shows 
that  you  have  a  sympathetic  heart." 

"  Yes,"  I  muttered,  in  a  tone  that  he  could  not  hear,  "  I 
am  fearful  that  my  heart  is  more  deeply  concerned  than  you 
are  aware  of." 

*'  Do  you  recollect  where  Molly  Brown  went  after  she 
left  your  house  ?  " 

"  I  heard  that  she  emigrated  to  Australia,  and  that  was 
the  last  information  concerning  her  until,  a  year  or  two  ago, 
1  returned  Australian  called  at  my  house,  and,  while  waiting 
in  the  drawing-room,  saw  a  portrait  of  the  child,  taken  when 


EXPLANATIONS.  35A 

she  was  two' years  of  age.  He  expressed  his  astonishtient 
to  my  wife  and  myself,  and  declared  that  he  saw  the  original 
on  board  a  ship,  twenty  years  before,  with  steerage  pas- 
isengers,  bound  to  Australia.  lie  was  the  more  particular 
on  this  point,  because  he  had  often  played  with  the  little  girl 
on  board  the  ship,  and  did  much  to  amuse  her  and  make  her 
comfortable.  She  was  then  named  Jenny  Sykes ;  but  what 
was  singular,  the  child  did  not  seem  to  know  her  own  name, 
and  acted  in  a  confused  manner  when  called  Sykes.  She 
"ras  in  charge  of  two  women,  one  of  whom  said  that  she  was 
Mrs.  Sykes,  and  the  other  did  not  give  her  name,  although 
the  was  a  good-looking,  smart-appearing  girl,  and  was  always 
called  Mary." 

"  Those  two  women,"  I  said,  "  were  Mrs.  Sykes,  the  wife 
of  the  Manchester  Pet,  and  Molly  Brown,  your  domestic. 
They  went  in  one  ship,  an  emigrant  vessel,  and  the  Pet  went 
in  a  convict  transport.     The  little  girl  whom  they  had  —  " 

"  Was  who  ?"  demanded  the  baronet. 

"  Your  daughter ! "  Sir  W^'Uiam  uttered  a  groan,  and 
dropped  to  the  floor  as  though  struck  by  lightning. 


CHAPTER   LIY. 

EXPLANATIONS.  MOTHEH    BKOWN    AND    TOM.  AN    INTF.B- 

VIEW    WITH    THE    B^OIONET. 

When  Sir  William  dropped  to  the  floor  on  my  announciaij 
that  Jenny  Sykes  and  his  long  lost  daughter  were  one  and 
ihe  same  person,  I  opened  the  door  leading  to  the  room 
where  Hopeful  and  Murden  were  still  at  the  table,  smoking 
and  drinking  '^  ith  the  air  of  lords. 

"What's  the  row?"  the  commissioner  asked,  startled  at 
the  noise  that  the  baronet  had  made. 

"  Yes,  what's  the  row  ? "  repeated  that  miserable  Hopeful; 
*'  don't  you  know  any  better  than  to  disturb  us  with  your 
QoiHe." 

24 


856  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Sir  William  lias  fainted,"  I  replied.  '  Bring  me  a  glass 
of  water." 

The  two  men  started  from  the  table.  Murden  with  a  glass 
of  water  in  his  hand,  and  Hopeful  with  ^wo  pitchers  —  one 
containing  hot  water,  with  which  to  mix  punch,  and  the  other 
iced  water.  I  bathed  the  baronet's  head  and  face,  while  at 
the  same  time  I  loosened  his  cravat,  and  unbuttoned  hi? 
sliirt  collar.     Sir  Yniliam  opened  his  eyes. 

"You  are  better.  Sir  William,"  the  commissioner  said. 
'  •  Shall  I  call  a  surgeon  ?  Can  I  do  anything  for  you,  SIi 
William?" 

"Yes,  hold  your  tongue,"  was  the  brief  rejoinder. 

"Certainly,  Sir  William,"  was  the  abject  reply  of  the 
Englishman. 

Sir  William  raised  himself  up  and  looked  around. 

"  Bring  me  a  glass  of  wine,"  he  said  to  the  commissioner. 

**  Give  him  two  glasses  —  one  might  make  him  sick,"  mut- 
tered that  wretched  Hopeful,  who  cared  no  more  for  a  baro- 
net, unless  he  was  a  good  mechanic,  than  he  did  for  any 
man. 

The  wine  was  brought  and  drank.  Its  influence  was  reviv- 
ing, for  the  baronet  arose  and  took  a  chair. 

*'  Leave  us  for  a  few  minutes,  my  good  fellow,"  the  knight 
said ;  and  at  the  words  the  commissioner  bowed  and  retired. 

"  Now,  my  kind  friend,"  said  Sir  William,  as  soon  as  the 
door  closed,  *'  tell  me  all  that  you  know  on  the  subject." 

''  But  first  inform  me  if  you  had  not  some  suspicion  that 
the  girl  was  your  daughter  ? " 

*'  I  have  strongly  suspected  it,  ever  since  I  met  her,  after 
mj  release  from  the  custody  of  the  bushrangers.  Her  ap- 
j.oarance,  her  eyes,  face,  and  hair  resemble  my  wife's  so 
much  that  I  was  confounded  at  the  likeness,  and  deter- 
mined to  investigate  and  learn  all  the  particulars  that  I  could 
respecting  her  history.  I  was  engaged  in  that  business  last 
night  when  you  saw  me,  and  saved  me  from  a  terrible  punish- 
uient  at  the  Red  Lion." 

"  Yes ;  and  for  being  there  I  was  almost  resolved  ^o  \oA 
you  do  the  best  that  you  could,  all  alone." 


EXPLANATIOxVS.  357 

•*  A  little  jealous  of  an  old  man  like  me.  Fie  !  where  is 
yoiir  pride  ? " 

"  It  seems  that  IMiss  Jenny  does  not  think  much  of  me," 
I  answered,  a  little  bitterly. 

*'  To  be  sure  she  don't,  and  with  reason.  She  supposes 
that  you  are  in  some  manner  connected  with  the  police  depart- 
ment, and  that  you  are  ashamed  or  fearful  of  acknowledging 
the  same.  Recollect  that  she  has  been  reared  in  the  midst 
of  people,  who,  by  their  habits  and  instincts,  are  taught  to 
hate  law,  and  those  who  support  it.  In  time,  her  mind  will 
become  disabused  of  all  such  nonsense,  and  then  she  will 
estimate  you  at  your  proper  worth." 

"  I  fear  not,"  I  sighed. 

"  Have  no  fear  on  the  ^ibject.  If  she  is  proved  to  be  my 
own  flesh  and  blood,  she  will  know  by  instinct  her  friends. 
None  from  my  house  are  ungrateful.  Now,"  he  continued.^ 
after  a  moment's  reflection,  "  will  you  lay  before  me  all  the 
particulars  of  the  plot  by  which  I  lost  a  daughter  ? " 

"  Perhaps  you  had  rather  hear  the  whole  matter  from  the 
lips  of  the  woman  who  stole  your  child." 

"  Certainly.     Who  is  she  ? " 

"  No  less  a  person  than  Mother  Brown,  whom  you  saw  at 
the  bushrangers'  cave." 

"  WTiat !  "  cried  the  baronet,  starting  up  ;  "  do  you  mean 
to  tell  me  that  that  old  hag  was  once  the  good-looking  do- 
mestic in  my  family?" 

"  The  same,  sir." 

"  The  old  she-devil !  I  will  have  her  beaten  to  death  for  the 
crime  ahe  has  committed  !    I  will  tear  her  limb  from  limb  ! " 

'*  Sit  down,  and  listen  to  me  for  a  moment,"  I  said ;  and 
At  length  he  did  so,  although  he  still  fumed  and  raved.  "  I 
have  promised  Mother  Brown  that  if  she  would  make  a  full 
confession,  and  undo  the  wrong  that  she  has  helped  to  do, 
that  you  will  forgive  her  in  the  fullest  manner,  and  insti- 
tute no  proceedings  against  her." 

"  I  shall  do  no  such  thing,"  he  cried,  in  a  liasty  manner, 
jumping  up,  and  making  the  house  shake  with  his  firm  tread 
as  he  walked  up  and  down  the  apartment. 


358  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"As  you  please,"  I  answered,  and  remained  quiet.  I'res- 
€ntly  the  baronet  became  more  calm ;  and  then  he  once  more 
resumed  his  seat. 

"  Well,"  he  asked,  "  why  don't  you  go  on  ? " 

*'  I  have  finished  my  story,"  I  said. 

"  No,  you  have  not.  You  have  failed  to  give  me  the  par- 
ticulars of  that  hag's  confession." 

"  Yes ;  but,  nevertheless,  I  have  said  all  I  intend  to." 

•'  What  do  you  mean  r "  spgjiea  most  impatiently. 

"  Just  what  I  say.  If  you  can't  bind  yourself  to  keep  the 
pledge  that  I  have  given  the  woman,  not  another  word  passes 
my  lips  on  the  subject  of  your  child." 

"  Do  you  mean  what  you  say  ?  "^he  asked. 

"  I  do,  most  emphatically." 

''  I  can  open  your  mouth  only  by  means  of  a  promise  ?'* 
Sir  William  said.     I  bowed. 

"-Well,,  then,  take  it ;  but  I  tell  you  it  is  with  great  reluc- 
tance that  I  give  it.  She  should  be  hanged  for  what  she  has 
done." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it ;  but  that  same  woman  saved  my 
life  at  the  risk  of  her  own.  I  owe  her  a  debt  of  gratitude 
for  what  she  has  done  for  nic.  It  is  natural  that  I  should 
bo  her  friend,  and  while  thinking  me  one,  she  confided  to 
me  the  secret  of  her  life  —  the  abduction  of  your  daughter. 
But  first  she  extorted  from  me  a  promise  that  I  would  see 
that  she  was  not  punished  for  her  ofi"ence.  Now  you  know 
all."     The  baronet  extended  his  hand. 

*'  You  are  a  noble  young  fellow,"   he  said,  "  and  I  am 
proud  to  call  you  a  friend.     If  you  had  lost  a  child  in  thf» 
manner  that  I  did,  you  would  feel  as  anxious  for  revenge 
as  I  felt  a  few  moments  since.     But  go  on  with  your  story 
You  have  my  promise." 

"  And  you  will  speak  kindly  to  the  old  woman  ?  "  Sir 
William  smothered  his  rising  chokr,  and  said  yes,  and 
motioned  to  me  to  proceed. 

"  Mother  Brown  made  a  full  confession  this  morning, 
telling  me  the  reason  why  she  stole  the  child,  and  at  whoso 
dictation.". 


EXPLANATI0N13.  358 

**  Who  could  have  asked  her  to  perform  so  mean  a  pai-t  ?  *' 

"  Do  you  think  of  no  one  who  had  a  spite  against  you  at 
the  time  ^  " 

**  No,  for  I  had  offended  no  one.  I  did  not  have  an  enemv 
in  the  country,  that  I  was  aware  of." 

"  But  still  you  had  an  enemy,  and  a  most  anscrupulous 
one.  He  was  enraged  at  your  refusal  to  use  your  influence 
t.)  iiave  his  sentence  changed  from  transportation  to  a  VipjA 
(i'lo  or  imprisonment  at  home." 

"  You  refer  to  Bill  Sykes,  the  Manchester  Pet  ?" 

"I  do.  He  could  think  of  no  other  manner  in  which  he 
could  be  revenged,  than  by  stealing  your  child.  He  did 
not  do  it  himself — but  he  employed  Molly  Brown  ;  and  such 
was  the  influence  that  he  possessed  over  her,  that  she  con- 
sented to  do  his  bidding,  and  leave  the  country  for  Aus- 
tralia. But  I  had  better  let  the  woman  tell  her  own  story, 
provided  you  will  listen  to  it  with  patience." 

"  I  will,"  the  baronet  answered.  "  But  I  must  have  ven- 
geance on  that  scoundrel.  Bill  Sykes." 

*'  "With  all  my  heart;  I  am  willing,"  I  answered.  *'  Shoot 
him  or  hang  him,  imprison  him  or  pardon  him,  it  is  all  one 
to  me.     I  have  no  love  for  him,  I  assure  you." 

"  You  are  not  so  indifferent  about  my  daughter .''  "  asked 
the  baronet,  with  a  sly  glance  of  his  eye. 

Of  course  I  blushed,  because  it  was  impossible  to  do 
otherwise  on  having  such  a  pointed  question  put  to  me, 
Sir  William  noticed  my  embarrassment,  and  said,  — 

"  Well,  well,  don't  look  so  distressed.  I  noticed,  on  the 
day  that  we  met  the  girl  on  the  plain,  that  you  had  a  fancy 
for  her.  Let  me  say  that  I  honor  your  taste.  Just  such  a 
looking  lady  was  her  mother  at  Jenny's  age.  But  what 
nonsense  I  am  talking,  when  I  have  work  of  so  serious 
a  nature  before  me  !  About  this  old  woman,  Mother  Brown 
—  where  is  she  to  be  found  ? " 

"  You  will  see  her  without  delay,  wil'  you  ? " 

•'  Yes,  the  sooner  the  better." 

"  But  are  you  strong  enough  ?  Remember,  yr^u  gave 
evidence  of  some  v/eakness." 


360  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Pshaw  !  do  you  think  me  a  school-girl,  ready  to  faint  at 
the  sight  of  blood,  or  on  hearing  an  emotional  story.  I  am 
an  Englishman,  sir,  and  have  a  heart  like  a  rock." 

"  I  want  you  to  remember  your  promise.  The  woman  is 
to  escape  all  punishment,  except  in  the  shape  of  words. 
Scold  her  as  much  as  you  please,  but  nothing  worse." 

"  A  Byefield  does  not  forget  or  forfeit  his  word.  I  have 
said  what  I  would  do;  now  let  me  see  the  old  — "  He 
meant  to  have  used  a  strong  expression,  but  a  glance 
silenced  him. 

"■  I  think  it  is  better  that  you  should  see  her  here  in  your 
own  rooms  ;  do  you  ?  " 

Sir  William  nodded  his  head,  and  asked,  "  When  can  I 
see  her?" 

"  Within  half  an  hour." 

The  baronet  breathed  hard,  and  his  eyes  flashed ;  but  in 
a  moment  all  evidence  of  rage  had  passed  away. 

"  Remember  that  you  boast  of  being  a  Byefield,"  I  said. 

My  companion  laughed,  and  once  more  extended  his  hand. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  can  subdue  your  own  passions  as  easily 
as  you  do  those  of  others  ? " 

"  I  am  afraid  not,"  I  answered.  "  But  the  roaming  life 
I  have  led  for  so  many  years  has  taught  me  coolness  and 
audacity  at  the  same  time." 

*'  I  believe  you,"  was  the  reply,  but  spoken  in  a  tone  so 
low  that  it  was  not  intended  for  my  ear. 

"  But*  the  woman,  the  woman  !  let  me  see  her  as  quick  as 
possible,  and  thus  solve  all  my  doubts,"  Sir  William  said, 
a  moment  afterwards. 

I  obtained  a  carriage  at  the  door  of  the  Nugget  House, 
sod  entering  it,  was  soon  in  front  of  Murden's  home.  As- 
cending the  stairs,  I  found  that  I  was  none  too  soon,  for 
Mr.  Tom  Spitman  was  attempting  to  pick  the  lock  of  the  door 
leading  to  the  room  in  which  Mother  Brown  was  confined. 

"You  rascal !  "  I  said,  "  what  do  you  mean  by  trying  to 
open  that  door  ?  " 

"  0,  sir,"  the  fellow  replied,  with  a  squirm  to  escape  from 
my  grasp,  *'  the  old  voman  is  dry,  and  I  vants  to  relieve  her.'' 


MOTHER  BROWN  AND  TOM.  361 

'•'And  if  you  had  gained  access  to  her,  you  would  hia\e 
Bupplied  her  with  liquor,  would  you  not  ?  " 

**  Yes,  sir." 

'*  And  what  then  ?  " 

The  rascal  grinned  as  he  replied,  "I  should  have  spcr- 
imented  with  her  a  little." 

"How?" 

"  Jist  seen  if  she  could  stand  fire.  She's  so  jolly  'ily,  you 
know." 

I  took  the  young  man  by  the  neck,  gave  him  a  sharp  turn 
to  the  left,  and  headed  him  down  stairs.  He  picked  him- 
self up,  and  said,  — 

"  You'll  be  the  death  of  me  some  day,  if  you  don't  mind. 
You  seem  to  think  that  my  neck  ain't  good  for  anything, 
don't  you  ? " 

I  shook  my  fist  at  the  wretch,  and  he  vanished  in  the 
direction  of  the  kitchen,  and  commenced  some  of  his  useful 
labors,  interspersed  with  torturing  and  threatening  the  cook, 
so  that  the  lower  atmosphere  was  rather  hot  on  that  event- 
ful afternoon.  Mother  Brown  had  heard  my  voice,  and 
subsided  immediately.  There  were  no  more  calls  for  liquor. 
She  appeared  to  recollect  her  promise,  and  kept  sober ;  but 
I  was  not  deceived  in  the  least.  I  unlocked  the  door,  and 
walked  in. 

"  0,  my  child,"  she  said,  "  how  I  have  wished  you  to  come." 

**  For  what  reason  ?  " 

*'  I'm  so  dry,'*  was  the  reply. 

*'  Ah !  you  want  water.  You  shall  have  some,  as  much 
as  you  can  drink." 

"  Well,  I'm  not  at  all  particular.  If  there  ain't  water,  you 
can  give  me  the  fust  thing  that  comes  handy  —  gin  or  beer , 
cne  or  both  will  do,"  Mother  Brown  said. 

"  Do  you  remember  your  promise  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  What  promise  ?  " 

"  That  you  would  not  drink  until  this  mystery  was  all 
cleared  up." 

"  Well,  ain't  it  cleared  up.  Haven't  I  told  you  my  Btory, 
and  ain't  that  enouglr  ?  " 


362  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"  No  ;  you  must  do  more  than  all  that ;  you  must  ion 
go  with  me  to  the  Nugget  House." 

"  For  what  ? " 

"  To  see  Sir  William." 

"They  won't  let  me  see  him.  They'll  turn  mo  out. 
They  wouldn't  even  trust  me  for  a  glass  of  gin  that  I  asked 
for  one  day." 

"No  matter  for  that.  Sir  William  is  at  the  Nugget 
liuuse,  and  will  see  you." 

"  And  have  you  told  him  all  ? " 

"  No,  not  all.    I  leave  it  to  you  to  make  a  full  confession." 

"  And  won't  he  punish  me  ? " 

"  He  has  pledged  himself  not  to." 

"  The  dear  old  master !    0,  how  he  must  feel  towards  me  ! " 

"  He  is  calm  now,  and  will  listen  to  what  you  have  to  say. 
Come." 

"  Not  a  step  till  I  has  a  '  spider '  to  keep  my  courage  up." 

I  saw  that  the  old  woman  was  resolute  ;  so  I  went  to  my 
room  and  poured  out  a  fair  dose  of  gin.  She  took  it  at 
once,  and  then  declared  that  she  was  ready.  She  trembled 
violently  as  I  opened  the  door  and  led  her  into  the  presence 
of  Sir  William,  who  was  standing  up  ready  to  receive  her. 
No  sooner  did  she  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  baronet  than  she 
uttered  a  cry,  broke  frc^  my  control,  and  threw  herself  at 
the  feet  of  her  former  master. 


CHAPTER   LV. 


MOTHER     BROWNS     CONFESSION. THE     STOLEN     CHILD.— 

THE     LOCKS     OF     HAIR. 

For  a  few  moments  there  was  silence  in  the  room,  broken 
only  by  the  sobs  of  the  woman.     That  wretched  HopefuJ 
who  did,  not  comprehend  the  meaning  of  the  scene,  managed 
to  mutter  some  maudlin  stuff;  but  no  one  paid  the  slightest 
attention  tb  him. 


MOTHER   BROWN'S  CONFESSION.  363 

"Stand  up,"  said  Sir  William,  stooping  dvwii,  and 
attempting  to  raise  the  woman ;  but  she  shrank  from  his 
touch,  and  continued  to  sob  and  beg  for  mercy. 

By  some  exertion  we  managed  to  get  the  woman  into  a 
seat ;  but  we  found  it  necessary  to  hold  her  there.  In  the 
mean  time  the  scene  was  so  confounding  to  the  police  com- 
missioner that  he  could  only  gaze  at-  the  old  woman  and  at 
the  baronet,  and  then  turn  his  gray  eyes  upon  me,  as  though 
asking  for  an  explanation.  I  had  schooled  myself  for  the 
scene,  and  was  prepared  for  it.  Not  so  Sir  William.  In 
.«pite  of  his  firmness,  he  trembled,  and  looked  pale  and  hag- 
gard. I  went  to  the  table,  and  poured  out  a  glass  of  wine, 
and  handed  it  to  him.  He  thanked  me  with  a  smile,  and 
then  noticing  Mother  Brown's  wishful  look,  he  said,  — 

"Will  you  give  her  a  glass  ?  It  will  do  her  good  at  the 
present  time." 

"  More  blessed  and  truthful  words  yer  never  said  afore 
or  will  agin,"  whined  Mrs.  Brown,  with  a  gasp,  and  a  clutch 
at  her  throat,  as  though  to  convey  the  impression  that  it  was 
dreadfully  parched. 

"  It  is  many  years  since  you  left  my  service,  Mrs.  Brown," 
the  baronet  said. 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  it  was  a  sorry  day  for  me  that  I  did  leave 
it.  It  would  have  been  better  for^me  if  I  had  stuck  by  the 
old  hall." 

"  You  know  why  I  have  summoned  you  here  ?  "  the  bar- 
onet demanded. 

'*  Yes,  Sir  William ;  I  knows,  and  am  sorry  for  what  1 
knows." 

"  If  you  are  truly  repentant  I  shall  forgive  you,  provided 
you  make  a  full  and  candid  confession." 

Hez  began  to  grow  interested.  He  reached  towards  a 
bottle,  but  suddenly  altered  his  mind,  and  turned  his  back 
upon  the  table  and  contents.  As  soon  as  Mother  Brown 
had  recovered  from  her  agitation,  Sir  William  motioned 
for  her  to  go  on. 

"  I  was  a  contented  girl,  Sir  William,"  she  said,  "  when  1 
lived   in   yer   household,  till  I  met   that  'ere   Manchestei 


364  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

Pet,  or  Bill  Sykes,  —  that  was  Ms  name,  —  the  prize -fight  it 
what  yer  allers  had  hangiu'  at  yer  heels,  and  foUowin'  round 
arter  yer  like  a  dog." 

The  baronet  winced  a  little,  but  did  not  interrupt  her. 

'*  Well,  sir,  as  he  was  allers  in  the  servants'  hall,  a  drinks 
in'  and  a  guzzlin',  and  tellin'  us  women-folks  that  he  conld 
whip  most  every  one,  and  not  more'n  half  train  at  that,  1 
kinder  took  a  likin'  to  him,  'cause  I  was  a  young  and  foolish 
i?oman  at  that  time,  and  didn't  know  what  was  best  for  me. 
The  Pet  appeared  so  brave,  and  could  lick  men  so  easy, 
that  I  thought  that  he  must  be  somethin'  more  than  a  man ; 
and  so  I  just  took  a  fancy  to  him.  He  read  it,  and  took  a 
likin'  to  me,  and  told  me  that  when  his  wife  died  he  would 
marry  me  ;  and  I  lived  on,  hopin'  that  she  would  pop  off; 
but  she  didn't ;  she  lived,  just  to  spite  me,  I  used  to  think. 
But  the  Pet  was  just  as  pleasant,  kinder,  to  me,  as  though 
she  was  dead,  and  I  used  to  give  him  all  the  best  pickings 
from  the  first  tabic,  and  steal  wine  from  the  butler,  so  that 
he  could  wet  his  lips  with  the  best  that  the  house  afforded. 
Yer  didn't  know  all  that  was  goin'  on  in  yer  house.  Sir 
William." 

*'  No,  I  suppose  not,"  groaned  the  baronet. 

"  We  used  to  be  awful  extravagant.  Sir  William,  in  the 
servants'  hall,  'cause  we  had  no  missis  to  find  fault  and 
check  the  accounts.  But  arter  a  while  yer  brought  home  a 
wife.  Sir  William  ;  and  a  bonny  thing  she  was,  and  she  loved 
yer  very  much,  and  spoke  pleasant  to  all  of  us ;  but  I  hated 
her,  'cause  Bill  Sykes  told  me  to.  Yer  turned  a  cold  shoul- 
der to  him  after  yer  was  married,  'cause  yer  didn't  care  tq 
much  for  prize-fights,  and  dog-fights,  and  rat-terriers,  a] id 
horse -racing,  and  sich  like  sport,  arter  yer  had  sich  a  hand- 
Bomc  wife  to  love." 

The  baronet  blushed  at  having  the  secrets  of  his  early  life 
exposed  ;  but  he  did  not  interrupt  the  old  woman. 

*'  All  of  yer  people  rejoiced  at  the  change,  'cept  Bill 
Bykes  and  me.  Yer  was  colder  and  colder  to  Bill,  and  no 
longer  axed  him  to  yer  house,  or  backed  him  in  his  fights. 
He  used  to  sweur  at  yer  for  it,  and  say  that  he  wcold  be 


MOTHER  BROWN'S  CONFESSION.  365 

revenged,  and  all  sich  as  that ;  but  still  he  wou.dn't  let  m€ 
leave  yer  sarvice,  'cause  he  said  I  could  be  useful  to  him 
where  I  was,  some  day.  I  liked  him  well  enough  to  do  just 
as  he  said ;  so  I  continued  to  live  in  yer  home  until  yei 
little  Marie  was  two  years  of  age. 

"  Well,  when  the  little  gal  was  two  years  old,  the  Pet  liad 
a  big  fight  with  another  feller,  and  killed  him.  He  A^as 
nabbed  for  manslaughter,  and  tried  for  it,  and  got  a  ticket 
in  tlie  shape  of  transportation  for  life.  Then  he  sent  for 
yer,  Sir  William ;  and  when  yer  didn't  come,  he  writ  to  yer, 
and  axed  for  money  and  help  to  have  his  sentence  changed 
to  a  fine  and  imprisonment  at  home.  Yer  didn't  mind  him, 
and  then  the  Pet  grew  raving  mad.  He  sent  for  me,  and 
told  me,  in  the  presence  of  his  wife,  what  he  wanted  me  to 
do.  Don't  curse  me.  Sir  William,  or  trample  me  underfoot ; 
but  the  big  bully  did  want  me  to  steal  the  child,  yer  little 
Marie,  and  to  go  to  Australia  in  a  transport,  while  he  went 
out  with  the  convicts.  His  wife  she  tells  me  to  do  the  same  : 
and  when  I  refuses,  they  both  say  that  they'll  ruin  me  unless 
I  does.  But  I  still  holds  out,  and  then  the  wife  she  leaves 
us  alone  ;  and,  0,  law  !  I  couldn't  refuse  when  he  took  me  in 
his  arms  and  called  me  his  darling  Mollie,  and  said  that  he 
would  splice  me  as  soon  as  his  old  woman  hopped  the  twig." 

Sir  William  uttered  a  groan,  and  was  inclined  to  start  up, 
in  his  wrath,  and  do  the  old  woman  some  damage ;  but  I 
whispered,  "  Remember  your  word." 

"  I  will,"  he  said,  *'  but  it  is  hard  to  do  so." 

"  Sykes  said  that  1  must  leave  yer  comfortable  home,  Sir 
William,  so  that  when  the  child  was  missed  I  wouldn't  be 
suspected.  He  gave  me  money,  and  told  me  just  what  to  do, 
and  where  the  ship  sailed  from  that  started  for  Australia. 
After  I  had  secured  the  child,  I  was  to  cut  off  her  curie, 
dress  hor  in  poor  clothes,  and  stain  her  skin  with  some  kind 
of  juice  that  his  wife  got  from  gypsies.  She  was  to  join  me, 
and  help  me  do  the  work." 

*'  O  God,  can  all  this  be  true  ? "  groaned  the  unhappy 
father. 

"  Sartin  ;  it's  all  gospel  what  I'm  tellin'  of  yer.     Yer  don't 


0(J5  THE  BUSflKANGI'.RS, 

s'pose  I'd  lie,  do  yer  ?  No,  Sir  Wiiiiam,  it  s  truth  what  you 
gets  out  of  me.  I'm  determined  to  tell  it  if  I  chokes  — 
there  now. 

'*  Where  was  I?  0,  I  see.  Well,  I  did  just  as  the  Pel 
wanted  me  to  do.  I  left  yer  house,  Sir  William,  and  took 
board  with  a  friend  about  a  mile  from  the  hall.  I  said  I  was 
goin'  to  try  my  luck  in  Australia,  where  women  was  dear 
aud  men  in  plenty,  and  where  most  any  one  could  have  a 
huoband  what  wished,  and  didn't  look  too  high.  I  waited 
there  till  I  hears  from  Sykes's  wife.  One  day  she  met  me  in 
the  forest,  and  tells  me  I  must  grab  the  child  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, and  start  for  Liverpool  one  week  from  the  day  that 
little  Marie  is  took.  The  Pet  didn't  want  me  to  run  as  soon 
as  I  took  the  gal,  'cos  he  was  afeard  that  I  would  be  'spected, 
and  followed.  *L  was  to  steal  the  child,  'cos  I  knew  she 
would  go  with  me  ;  and  arter  I  had  done  so,  Sykes's  wife  was 
to  help  me  doctor  her,  and  then  run  with  her  out  of  the 
county,  and  find  a  place  to  gtow  away  till  I  jined  her,  and 
the  ship  sailed." 

'*  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  carried  out  your  hellish 
design  ? "  asked  the  baronet,  in  a  low,  weak  tone,  as  though 
the  confession  was  too  much  for  him. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  did  what  I  told  Sykes  I'd  do.  I  took  the 
gal  one  mornin'  when  she  was  playin'  in  the  park,  and  looked 
so  pretty  that  my  heart  almost  failed  me  ;  and  if  I  hadn't 
told  Sykes  I'd  do  it,  I  shouldn't  have  had  the  heart  to  lay 
hands  on  her." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  spare  me  the  details  !  "  murmuied 
Sir  William  ;  and  then  rising  to  his  feet,  he  staggered  to  the 
table,  and  drank  a  full  goblet  of  hock. 

'*  I  have  but  little  more  to  add.  Sir  William,"  she  said. 
*'  I  took  the  child,  and  we  doctored  it;  and  then  Mrs.  Sykea 
(she  was  an  ugly  old  thing  as  ever  lived  —  I  hated  her)  cut 
for  Liverpool,  and  arter  the  hue  and  cry  was  all  over,  I 
started  for  the  same  place.  From  there  we  took  a  ship,  and 
sailed  over  the  ocean  so  blue  for  Australia." 

"  And  the  child,"  gasper!  Sir  William.  "  Did  it  not  crj 
and  moan  for  its  friends  ?  " 


MOTHER  BROWN'S  CONFtSSIOI^  36' 

"  O,  yes,  it  almost  sobbed  its  blue  eyes  out ;  but  arter  a 
Nhile  it  didn't  seem  to  mind  it  much,  and  played  with  the 
sailors,  and  was  as  jolly  as  could  be." 

Sir  TV'illiam's  hands  worked  convulsively,  as  though  they 
were  inclined  to  fasten  upon  the  old  woman's  throat,^  and 
choke  the  life  out  of-  her  in  short  order. 

"What  next?"  asked  Jhe  baronet,  as  soon  as  he  dared 
tnist  his  voice. 

"  "Well,  when  we  arrived  at  Melbourne,  Bill  Syken  was 
there  hard  at  work  on  his  sentence.  His  wife  she  opens  a 
public  house  with  money  that  he  gives  her,  and  I  goes  and 
lives  with  her  as  a  bar-maid,  and  keep  a  watch  over  little 
Marie  at  the  same  time.  In  about  six  months,  old  Mothei 
Sykes  applied  to  the  authorities  for  a  servant,  and  she  selects 
her  husband,  and  says  that  she  will  be  responsible  for  him ; 
so  he  is  given  a  ticket-of-leave,  and  he  marches  into  the 
ealjoon  one  day,  and  takes  charge  of  the  Red  Lion  on  his 
own  account." 

Mother  Brown  at  this  stage  commenced  weeping,  but  stiU 
managed  to  talk. 

"  Then  began  my  trials,"  she  said.  "  I  had  a  hard 
trial  with  that  Pet  and  his  wife.  He  wanted  me,  and  she 
didn't ;  and  betwixt  'em  both  it  was  rather  rough.  But  arter 
my  Bobby  was  born,  I  had  to  cut  sticks,  'cos  old  Mother 
Sykes  said  that  Bill  Sykes  was  Bobby's  father ;  and  I  guess 
he  was.  But  the  devil  claimed  her  one  day,  and  took  her; 
and  then  I  s'posed  the  Pet  would  do  the  right  thing ;  but  he 
wouldn't  marry  me,  and  so  I  had  to  sink  lower  and  lower, 
\ill  at  last  I  was  nothing  but  a  poor,  miserable,  drunken 
eook  for  a  gang  of  bushrangers." 

While  she  was  sobbing  and  talking,  she  tore  open  the  front 
tif  her  dress,  and  produced  a  little  bag  carefully  tied  up. 
She  ripped  it  open,  and  then  placed  in  the  baronet's  hands 
several  little  golden  curls  cut  from  Jenny's  head  on  ihe  day 
that  she  was  abducted.  With  a  sigh  and  a  groan,  Sir  William 
pressed  the  locks  to  his  lips,  and  then  human  endurance 
could  hold  out  no  longer ;  his  head  dropped,  and  had  I  nol 
caught  him,  ho  would  have  fallen  to  the  floor. 


368  THE  B13SHRANGER8. 


CHAPTEK  LVI. 

PKEPABATIONS  FOE  AN  AKREST. THE    PET   ON    THE    WATC'l 

BAD    NEWS. 

M  :ri.en  hastened  to  the  baronet  with  a  glass  of  water 
vA'e  wet  the  man's  face,  and  at  last  had  the  satisfaction  of 
B(  eing  him  open  his  eyes  and  look  around,  in  a  doubtful 
uncertain  manner,  as  though  not  exactly  realizing  all  that 
had  taken  place. 

"We  must  have  the  fellow  arrested  for  conspiracy  and 
abduction,"  the  commissioner  remarked  in  a  brisk  tone. 
"  Leave  all  to  me,  and  I'll  see  it  done.  I'll  get  the  warrant 
out,  and  see  that  it  is  served  at  the  proper  time." 

"  But  we  must  first  extort  a  confession  from  the  brute," 
Sir  William  remarked.  "  I  Vant  to  be  certain  that  it's  mj 
child  that  I  take  to  my  heart  and  home." 

'*  We'll  have  it  out  of  him.  Sir  William ;  no  fear  of  that," 
the  commissioner  replied.  "  Leave  the  matter  to  me,  and 
I'll  make  him  confess,  or  I'll  make  him  suifer." 

"  Then  we  had  better  start  for  the  Red  Lion  at  once,"  Sir 
William  remarked. 

"  I  shall  have  to  difi"er  from  you  on  that  point,"  the  com- 
missioner replied.  "  It  is  too  late  to  obtain  a  warrant,  and 
if  we  did  we  should  create  such  an  intense  excitement  in 
Mud  Lane  by  arresting  the  Pet,  that  the  fellow  would  ]jc 
likely  to  expect  a  rescue,  and  keep  a  silent  tongue.  No, 
Sir  William,  there  is  time  enough  to-morrow.  He  suspects 
nothing,  so  he'll  not  leave  the  city,  and  the  lady  knows 
nothing  of  what  is  going  on." 

"  No,  of  course  not." 

"  Than  let  us  separate,  and  meet  to-morrow  forenoon,  say 
at  ten  o'clock,  and  then  proceed  to  the  Red  Lion,  where  we 
can  have  an  examination." 

'  Would  it  not  be  better  to  have  one  in  this  room  ?  Oan'i 
you  bring  the  lady  and  the  Pet  to  my  quarters  ?  " 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  AX   ARREST.  36S 

'*  Certainly,  Sir  William.     I  cau  do  that  in  an  easy  manner." 

"  Then  I'll  thank  you  to  do  it.  I  should  like  to  have  all 
of  you  breakfast  with  me  in  the  morning,  say  at  nine  o'clock, 
and  after  the  meal  we  can  proceed  to  business."  We  all 
agreed  to  that. 

"  Mother  Brown  had  better  be  kept  in  the  background 
until  we  are  ready  for  her,"  I  said.  "  She  must  not  appear 
until  we  have  tried  other  means  to  compel  the  Pet  to  confess." 

*'  I  like  the  suggestion.  It  shall  be  acted  on.  Now,  what 
§hall  we  do  with  her  ?  She  must  be  kept  from  liquor,  and 
confined  in  some  room  where  escape  is  impossible  " 

"  I  don't  want  to  escape,"  she  said,  in  a  determined  tone. 
"  I  wouldn't  leave  this  work  undone  for  all  the  gold  in  the 
mi^es  of  Ballarat.  Bill  Sykes  must  suffer  for  all  wrongs 
}>e  has  committed  on  me  and  others.  Don't  fear  my  es- 
capin'.     I'll  drink,  but  not  run." 

"  We  must  be  careful,  Mother  Brown,"  the  commissioner 
said.  "  You  can  go  home  with  us  and  spend  the  night,  and 
then  we  shall  know  where  to  put  our  hands  on  you  in  the 
morning.  You  shall  have  a  '  spider '  for  a  night-cap,  and  bit- 
ters before  breakfast." 

*'  I'll  go  with  yer  ;  "  and  the  old  woman  arose. 

*'  A  parting  glass  before  we  separate,"  Sir  William  said. 

*'  I'm  agreed,"  cried  Hez  and  Mother  Brown  with  one 
accord. 

We  emptied  our  wine-glasses,  and  then  shook  hands  with 
the  baronet,  and  took  our  departure.  As  the  night  wa^ 
pleasant  and  cool,  we  walked  home,  and  had  proceeded  but  a 
short  distance  when  we  saw  the  Pet  on  the  sidewalk,  look- 
ing up  at  the  Nugget  House,  and  in  the  direction  of  the 
rocm  which  Sir  William  occupied.  The  ex-prize-fighter  was 
so  much  engaged  that  he  did  not  notice  us  as  we  passed 
near  him.  His  eyes  were  too  firmly  fixed  3U  the  room 
wliich  we  had  just  left  to  pay  the  least  attention  to  our 
m)vements,  although  Mother  Brown  did  express  awishlci 
punch  his  head,  and  to  tear  some  of  his  hair  out  by  the  roots, 
and  would  have  closed  with  him,  if  we  had  not  held  or. 
to  her  and  threatened  her   if  she  made  the  least  noiso  oi 


870  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

attrac  ed  the  slightest  attention.  When  we  were  S6me  dis- 
tance  from  the  Pet,  I  turned  and  looked  back.  He  was  still 
gazing  at  the  windows  of  Sir  William's  room,  as  though 
meditating  upon  some  bold  and  desperate  deed.  Did  Sjkes 
suspect  that  Sir  William  was  on  his  track,  and  determined  to 
pursue  him  until  justice  and  vengeance  were  satisfied  ?  It 
looked  so  ;  but  how  had  he  learned  the  fact  ?  Had  some  one 
in  the  baronet's  pay  revealed  the  secret,  and  thus  placed  the 
Pet  on  his  guard  ?  I  feared  so,  and  wished  that  we  had  acted 
promptly  that  night,  and  thus  brought  the  matter  to  a  close. 
I  hinted  as  much  to  Murden ;  but  the  commissioner  laughed 
at  my  fears,  and  contended  that  there  was  not  the  slightest 
danger  of  our  missing  the  man.  He  would  be  found  in 
the  morning  at  the  Red  Lion,  behind  his  bar,  doing  duty, 
as  usual. 

Leaving  the  Pet  standing  on  the  sidewalk,  we  started  for 
home,  each  one  thinking  of  the  morrow,  and  how  Miss 
Jenny  would  welcome  so  great  a  revolution  in  her  cir- 
cumstances. To  be  raised  from  the  position  of  bar-maid  in 
the  Red  Lion  to  that  of  a  baronet's  daughter,  rich  and  pow- 
erful, would  be  something  of  a  change;  and  I  was  anxious 
to  see  if  she  would  assume  the  position  of  a  lady  with  a  vul- 
gar flourish,  or  with  a  quiet  dignity  that  would  become  her 
jeauty  and  present  education. 

We  sat  and  smoked  until  the  mantel  clock  struck  the  hour 
)f  twelve,  and  then  separated  for  our  respective  rooms, 
with  express  orders  to  Tom  to  call  us  at  seven  —  instrue- 
lions  which  he  followed  to  the  letter,  confound  him  !  for  T 
was  terribly  sleepy  when  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  tcld 
me  the  time,  and  also  intimated  that  Murden  was  up  and 
dressed,  and  had  been  stirring  round  the  house  for  an  hour 
or  more.  I  called  to  Hez,  but  that  genius  swore  at  me  in  a 
frightful  manner ;  so  I  let  him  remain  in  bed,  undisturbed. 
He  was  getting  corrupted  by  contact  with  the  natives  of  Aus- 
tralia in  the  most  remarkable  manner.  Many  and  wonderful 
changes  had  taken  place  in  his  disposition  since  we  landeJ 
in  the  province  of  Victoria,  and  I  feared  that  it.  would  re- 
j^uire  all  of  my  Christim-like  resignation  to  get  along  with 


BAD  NEWS.  375 

him.  I  left  Hopeful  snoring,  walked  down,  and  found  Murden 
transacting  some  business  with  early  callers,  and  sipping  cofi'ee 
at  the  same  time.    He  looked  as  fresh  and  energetic  as  ever. 

"  We  will  move  in  a  few  moments,"  he  said.  "  To  telj 
the  truth,  I  almost  repent  that  I  did  not  take  your  advice, 
and  arrest  the  Pet  last  night.  Somehow  I  don't  feel  quite 
right  about  the  matter.  Some  misfortune  is  about  to  happen, 
unless  my  nerves  are  unstrung  with  last  night's  drinking, 
Devilish  good  wine,  though,  wasn't  it  ?  The  Nugget  House 
can  do  up  such  things  when  it  has  a  mind  to." 

*'  If  some  blunder  has  occurred  through  your  neglect,"  1 
said,  with  a  quiver  of  apprehension,  "  don't  ask  me  to  for- 
give you,  for  I  never  will.  You  know  how  strongly  I  urged 
you  to  act  last  night,  and  how  obstinate  you  were." 

"  Yes,  I  remember  all  that." 

"  Well,  continue  to  think  of  it,  for  I  shall  be  angry  if  the 
Pet  has  made  his  escape." 

'  No  fear  of  that..  If  he  has  left  the  city  I  can  bring  him 
back.     I  will  find  him  if  he  is  in  Victoria." 

Some  one  knocked  at  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  roared  the  commissioner. 

The  door  opened,  and  we  saw  Lieutenant  Maurice  stand- 
ing before  us,  pale  and  weak-looking,  with  his  arm  in  a  sling, 
»nd  the  limb  covered  with  blood. 

*'For  God's  sake,  what  has  happened?"  demanded  the 
'commissioner. 

"  I  have  some  bad  news  for  you,"  the  lieutenant  replied, 
in  a  low  tone. 

J  saw  that  the  man  could  hardly  keep  his  feet ;  so  I  went 
k)wards  him  and  gave  him  an  arm,  and  led  him  to  a  seat. 

"If  you  have  a  drop  of  wine  in  the  house,  I  would  be 
thankful  for  it,"  the  lieutenant  said. 

"  Ycu  shall  have  a  gallon,  only  let  me  know  what  disaster 
has  happened,"  cried  the  impatient  commissioner. 

"  Well,  sir,  it  is  hard  news  for  you  to  hear,  but  last  night 
Mad  Dick  made  his  escape,  and  is  at  large." 

Tlie  commissioner  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  roared  with 
rage  and  disappointment.     He  swore  in  the  most  frightful 

25 


37  2  THE    BUSHRANGEKS. 

jaanner.  and  would  not  listen  to  reason,  until  Maurice  turnt  J 
a  shade  paler,  and  then  his  head  fell  forward,  and  the  niL.i 
would  have  fallen  to  the  ground  if  I  had  not  caught  him. 

**  Don't  be  a  fool,"  I  said,  in  an  impatient  manner. 
*•  Don't  you  see  that  the  man  is  nearly  dead  with  fatigua 
tnd  a  severe  wound,  which  he  has  not  even  stopped  to  havo 
dressed  by  a  surgeon  ?     Come,  be  reasonable." 

The  commissioner  swore  in  a  subdued  tone,  and  then  a  - 
sisted  me  to  restore  Maurice,  who  was  an  old  soldier,  an  ; 
^ould  endure  much  without  a  murmur.  We  poured  wine  an.l 
water  down  his  throat,  dashed  water  on  his -face,  and  took  ,t 
hasty  look  at  the  limb,  which  we  found  injured  by  a  bull.  : 
having  passed  through  the  flesh  of  the  arm,  and  escaped tLo 
bones,  so  that  they  were  not  broken.  We  sent  Tom  for  ;i 
surgeon ;  but  before  the  doctor  arrived,  the  lieutenant  open*  I 
his  eyes,  and  expressed  his  thanks  with  a  faint  smile. 

*'  I  did  all  that  I  could  to  recapture  the  scamp,"  Maurice 
said ;  "  but  he  was  too  much  for  me.  He  had  one  of  our 
carbines,  and  when  I  thought  I  had  him,  he  let  drive,  and 
gave  me  this  ugly  wound  as  a  keepsake." 

Just  at  this  moment  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  a 
servant  of  the  Nugget  House  entered. 

"  Sir  William  Byefield  wishes  to  see  you  two  gentlemen 
as  quick  as  possible." 

Murden  and  I  looked  at  each  other  in  dismay.  W.  -: 
had  happened  to  occasion  such  a  hasty  summons  ? 


CHAPTEE    LVn. 

A   SUDDEN    DISAPPEARANCE. THE    PUKSITIT. 

Something  was  wrong,  or  else  Sir  William  was  ovei 
anxious,  and  wished  to  relieve  his  mind  of  some  of  the  care 
that  preyed  upon  it,  in  an  expeditious  manner.  I>ut  at  the 
present  time  we  could  not  obey  the  summons ;  we  had  other 
and  important  work.     We  had  to  attend  to  31aurice,  and 


I 


A   SUDDEN   DISAPPEARANCE.  373 

then  make  soDie  arrangement  for  the  pursuit  of  Mad  Dick, 
one  of  the  most  desperate  of  bushrangers,  who,  after  a  long 
course  of  depredations,  had  been  captured  by  Murden  and  his 
men,  and  incarcerated  to  await  his  trial.  Neither  Murden 
nor  myself  had  the  slightest  idea  that  the  bushranger  could 
be  immediately  retaken.  But  public  opinion  required  that 
something  should  be  done,  and  the  commissioner  was  not  the 
man  to  slight  it.  He  loved  praise  and  feared  censure  too 
much  for  that. 

Maurice  manifested  some  symptoms  of  shame  at  having 
fainted. 

"  I  never  did  such  a  thing  afore,"  he  said,  "  and  hope  that 
I  shan't  again.  But  this  scratch  does  jump  so  like  a  kick- 
ing colt,  that  I  had  to  knock  under.     Excuse  me." 

"  Say  no  more,  old  fellow,"  Murden  replied.  "  I  dare  say 
that  you  did  all  that  man  could  do  to  bring  Mad  Dick  in. 
He  is  a  great  loss,  because  he  was  a  bold  man  ;  but  I  think 
we  shall  secure  him  once  more." 

"  I  sent  foul-  men  —  all  that  I  could  spare  —  after  the  fel- 
low as  soon  as  he  gave  me  this  keepsake,"  Maurice  replied. 
"  But  I  have  little  hope  that  they  will  find  the  rascal.  You 
know  him.     He  is  as  cunning  as  Old  Nick  himself." 

We  left  for  the  Nugget  House,  and  were  soon  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Sir  William,  whom  we  found  pacing  up  and  down  hia 
chamber,  in  a  terrible  state  of  agitation. 

"  Well  would  it  have  been  if  we  had  proceeded  to  the  Ked 
Lion  last  night,  when  I  could  have  claimed  my  daughter,  and 
you  could  have  arrested  the  Pet,"  Sir  William  moaned. 

"  But  I  can  do  my  part  this  morning,"  the  commissioner 
remarked. 

'  Too  late,"  moaned  the  baronet. 

"  Why  too  la|e  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Because  this  morning  the  Bed  Lion  is  closed,  and  Sykes 
and  my  poor  child  have  left  the  city." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  affairs  are  no  worse,"  Murden 
said.  "  I  feared  that  some  serious  misfortune  had  occurred. 
We  can  easily  put  that  to  rights.  Never  fear  but  thr.fc  W8 
«hal]  find  them.     I'll  lyarrant  you  that  we  shall." 


S74  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  But  you  do  not  think  of  my  terrible  misfortune  —  I,  who 
had  longed  to  clasp  a  daughter  to  my  heart ;  to  tell  her  how 
much  a  fond  mother  desired  to  see  her.  I  must  now  post- 
pone that  gratification.  It  is  too  hard,  when  by  a  littk 
prudence  all  this  might  have  been  avoided." 

"  Are  you  sure  that  they  have  left  the  city,  Sir  William  ?  '* 
"  Quite   sure.     The  Pet  must  have  suspected  that  some 
designs  were  entertained  on  his  liberty,  or  he  would  not  b;iTc 
left  so  suddenly." 

"  I  thought  so  last  night,  when  I  saw  him  standing  in  fro  he 
of  this  hotel.  Even  then  I  supposed  it  was  desirable  that 
he  should  be  arrested,  but  Mr.  Murden  thought  differently; 
so  there  was  an  end  of  it.  Now,  we  must  recover  the  young 
lady,  and  lose  no  time  in  doing  so." 

"  You  give  me  hope."  said  Sir  William. 
"  If  my  friend  will  only  join  me,  I  shall  have  no  fear  of 
the  result,"  Murden  remarked,  giving  me  a  strange  look. 

"  You  will  go  with  us  ?  "  cried  the  baronet,  with  an  anxious 
glance. 

"  I  am  not  a  free  agent,"  I  said,  in  a  tone  that  must  have 
convinced  both  gentlemen  that  I  was  anxious  to  serve  them. 
"  For  my  sake,  for  my  poor  wronged  child's  sake,  do  not 
leave  us  at  this  extremity,"  Sir  William  cried. 

"  For  her  sake  I  will  not,"  I  answered.  "  For  her  sake 
I  will  again  encounter  dangers  and  privations,  and  even 
death." 

*'  I  will  go  to  the  Red  Lion,  and  see  if  I  can  trace  the 
fiight  of  the  fugitives,"  Murden  said. 

"  They  have  been  traced  by  one  of  my  men,"  the  baron rt 
remarked.  "  They  left  the  city  at  twelve  o'clock  last  nigl.t^ 
in  a  vehicle.     They  headed  towards  Bendigo." 

"  But  I  can  pick  up  a  few  particulars.  In  the  mean  time, 
Mr.  Jack,  will  you  go  to  the  house,  and  make  preparations 
for  our  departure  ?  We  must  leave  the  city  within  an  hour 
or  two,"  said  Murden. 

I  left  the  room  and  hastened  home,  where  I  found  Hope- 
ful eating  breakfast.  He  uttered  a  dozen  objections  against 
mj  going  ,  but  when  I  told  him  he  could  load  the  crushers 


THE   HUNT  rORVPHE  BARONET'S  DAUGHTER.  374 

and  steam-engine  as  well  as  I  could,  he  was  somewliat  modt- 
ficd,  and  concluded  that  I  had  better  go,  and  let  him  manage 
the  business  alone.  My  preparations  were  soon  made,  and 
at  eleven  o'clock  we  left  the  city,  all  three  of  us  on  horse 
back,  with  provisions  sufficient  to  last  a  week.  But  I  made 
one  great  mistake.     I  left  Rover  with  Hopeful. 


CHAPTER   LVin. 

THE    HUNT    FOR    THE    EAROXEt's    EATTGHTEE. A   MIDNIGHT 

ADVENTURE. 

We  rode  on  in  silence  for  an  hour,  raising  clouds  of  dust 
which  almost  stifled  us,  until  at  last  we  drew  rein  at  Perry's 
farm,  where  we  dismounted  to  obtain  a  drink  of  water  and 
to  rest  our  horses,  the  heat  beginning  to  tell  on  them  in  a 
severe  manner.  Ten  or  a  dozen  teams  were  in  front  of 
the  door,  the  owners  having  turned  their  cattle  loose  until 
sundown,  when  they  intended  to  continue  their  journey  with 
more  comfort  than  they  could  during  midday.  I  was  just 
about  to  lift  a  tin  pot  of  water  to  my  lips  when  I  felt  a  hand 
on  my  shoulder.  Turning  round  I  saw  my  kind  friend. 
Smith,  his  face  none  too  free  of  dust  and  dirt,  but  looking 
as  well  as  possible  under  the  circumstances. 

"  YvTio'd  a  thought  of  seeing  you  ? "  he  cried,  shaking 
hands  with  an  unction  that  showed  how  delighted  he  was  at 
the  meeting.     "  "What's  in  the  wind  now  ? " 

I  drew  him  aside,  so  that  none  of  the  loungers  could  over- 
hear us,  and  then  asked  him  a  few  questions  before  I  an 
swcred  one. 

'  How  long  have  you  been  here  ? "  was  the  first  interrogation. 

"  Ever  since  eight  o'clock  this  morning." 

"  You  were  on  the  road  all  night  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  I  and  my  teams." 

"  Did  you  meet  a  man  and  a  girl  on  the  road,  some  time 
this  morDingr " 


376  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

•*  Yes,"  was  the  prompt  answer. 

"Where?" 

"  At  Fox's  station,  where  we  stopped  for  water  at  the  sink 
hole  at  that  place." 

"  Did  you  notice  them  in  a  particular  manner  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  because  they  seemed  in  a  hurry,  and  would  not 
gpoak  with  us.  The  man  was  a  big  fellow.  I've  seen  him 
in  Melbourne  many  a  time." 

"  And  the  woman ;  did  you  notice  her  face  ?  " 

"No;  it  was  covered  up,  as  though  she  was  cold.  Tho 
nir  was  rather  chilly." 

"  Well,  what  else  ? " 

"  Nothing,  only  the  man  watered  his  horses,  and  then 
started  as  fast  as  he  could  urge  the  animals.  But  what  is 
up  ?  More  adventures  and  speculations  ?  If  I  could  leave 
my  teams  —  I  have  four  of  *em  with  me,  for  the  purpose  of 
carting  your  machinery  to  the  cave  —  " 

"It  won't  do,  Smith,"  I  said,  with  a  smile;  "you  are  a 
steady-going  man,  married  to  your  second  wife  —  a  woman 
who  needs  more  protection  and  cherishing  than  Becky,  your 
first  spouse.  No,  no  ;  you  have  sown  your  wild  oats.  You 
can't  go  with  us." 

"  But  she  would  never  know  it,"  pleaded  Smith. 

"  What !  could  you  deceive  your  wife  ?  For  shame,  sir  I 
You  don't  deserve  so  excellent  a  woman." 

The  honest  fellow  winked  one  of  his  eyes,  and  said,  in  a 
slow  and  measured  tone,  — 

"  Gammon  !  You  know  you  can't  put  on  such  airs 
(a  me,  and  pretend  that  you  would  be  a  pattern.  It 
won't  do." 

Of  course  I  wilted  at  once,  and  no  longer  attempted  to 
rebuke  him;  but,  nevertheless,  I  was  determined  that  he 
should  not  accompany  me  on  the  expedition. 

"  How  did  you  leave  Amelia  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Slowly  recovering ;  but  still  weak,  and  agitated  at  the 
least  thing.  She  would  like  to  see  you.  Stop  at  the  house 
if  you  have  a  chance.  You  know  its  doors  are  always  opei 
fco  you  and  j  our  friends.'* 


THE  HUNT  FOR  THE  BARONET'S   DAUGHTER.  37^ 

I  pressed  the  man's  Land,  and  then  along  came  Murden  and 
Sir  William  to  see  if  I  had  obtained  any  intelligence.  In  a 
few  words  I  informed  them  of  the  news  which  Smith  had 
brought.     Sir  William  was  terribly  impatient. 

At  two  o'clock  we  started,  although  it  was  against  our  own 
j^idgment,  and  that  of  the  stockmen  who  were  waiting  at  the 
bouse  until  the  heat  of  the  day  had  passed,  before  they  under- 
took their  journey  to  the  mines,  or  towards  Melbourne.  We 
guarded  as  well  as  possible  against  sunstroke,  by  placing 
wet  cloths  in  our  hats ;  but  we  had  not  ridden  five  miles  be- 
fore the  cloths  were  dry,  our  horses  covered  with  foam,  and 
in  such  a  state  of  dejection  that  even  the  touch  of  the  spur 
did  not  cause  the  least  movement  of  an  animated  nature. 
Under  the  circumstances,  there  was  but  one  thing  to  do. 
That  was,  to  find  shade  and  rest  until  sundown  ;  and  it  was 
well  that  we  determined  on  such  a  course,  for  no  sooner  had 
we  obtained  shelter  than  Sir  William  was  so  overcome  that 
we  had  to  help  him  from  his  horse,  pour  wine  down  his 
throat,  and  bathe  his  head  and  neck  with  water ;  and,  even 
with  such  treatment,  he  was  an  hour  or  two  in  recovering 
sufficiently  to  enable  him  to  speak.  The  first  words  that  Sir 
William  uttered  were,  — 

*'  My  child  !  what  will  become  of  her  ?  " 

He  made  an  efi'ort  as  though  to  continue  his  journey,  but 
he  was  too  weak,  and  his  head  troubled  him ;  so  he  sank 
back  with  a  groan. 

"  Your  child  will  be  as  safe  a  month  hence  as  she  is  now," 
r  said.  "  She  will  be  restored  to  your  arms  ;  but  it  will  take 
some  little  time  to  accomplish  it.  The  man  who  has  her  in 
bis  power  will  remain  concealed  for  a  few  weeks,  perhaps 
months,  or  until  he  thinks  that  you  have  given  up  the  pur- 
suit." 

"  0,  why  didn't  we  arrest  the  rascal  last  night  ?"  groaned 
the  baronet. 

"  Because  we  were  too  stupid  to  do  so.  We  shall  know 
better  next  time." 

This  was  not  as  good  consolation  as  I  could  have  wished 
10  bestow,  but  it  was  the  best  I  ha'd ;  and  before  the  baronet 


378  THE  BUSHKANGEKS. 

had  time  to  fin  1  fault  with  it,  I  looked  up  and  saw  within 
ten  rods  of  us  a  native  of  the  Mount  Barker  tribe,  armed 
with  a  long  spear,  a  shield  made  of  tough  bark,  and  painted 
around  his  body  with  stripes  of  red  ochre,  found  in  some 
parts  of  Australia,  and  used  by  the  natives  for  personal 
adornment.  I  signalized  the  native  to  approach,  which  he 
did  very  willingly,  for  he  scented  tobacco  and  liquor  —  two 
things  which  an  Australian  takes  to.  When  within  ten  feet 
cf  us,  he  stopped,  leaned  on  his  spear,  took  a  survey  of  us, 
commencing  with  Murden,  and  ending  with  Sir  William. 

"  Ugh  I "  he  grunted,  the  baronet's  white  hair  having  at- 
tracted Lis  attention  ;  "  bissinaey." 

He  turned  to  leave  us,  for  he  thought  he  had  stumbled 
upon  a  venerable  missionary  and  two  of  his  attendants,  and 
if  such  was  the  case,  he  knew  that  he  would  have  a  dry  wel- 
come and  a  long  harangue. 

*'  Stop,"  I  cried.     "  No  marimi." 

"  No  ?  '* 

"No." 

The  native  drew  a  long  breath,  but  still  appeared  unsatis- 
fied. Murden  thought  that  he  would  convince  him ;  he  drew 
a  bottle  and  held  it  up.  The  shrewd  native  shook  his  head. 
It  would  not  do.  He  had  seen  missionaries  perform  that 
part  of  their  duties  with  much  greater  flourish  than  Murden 
attempted. 

"  You  d — d  fool !  "  roared  the  annoyed  commissioner. 

The  oath  settled  the  r][uestion  instanter.  The  native 
stretched  out  his  dark,  dirty  paw,  and  muttered  in  guttural 
tones,  — 

"Gibmelub." 

Murden  poured  out  a  little  of  the  spirit,  and  handed  it  to 
the  native.  Then  we  commenced  questioning  the  man,  using 
Englii:h  and  the  native  language  to  make  ourselves  under- 
stood, and  by  that  means  we  were  enabled  to  learn  2hat  the 
fellow  had  seen  the  Pet  and  a  lady  early  that  morning,  head- 
ing for  Bendigo.  So  at  six  o'clock  we  thought  we  could 
venture  to  start,  and  by  twelve  o'clock  we  mad'*  thirty  miles, 
and  were  just  thinking  of  stopping  for  the  ni^ht,  wb^n  we 


A  MIDNIGHT  ADVENTURE.  87S 

were  somewhat  surprised  by  hearing  a  peremptory  command 
of  "  Halty  As  we  checked  our  horses,  the  same  voice  that 
had  bid  us  halt  asked,  — 

"  Do  you  surrender  ? " 

"  To  whom  ? "  I  demanded. 

'*  No  matter.     Do  you  surrender  ?  " 

"  How  large  is  your  force  ?  "  I  continued,  in  a  bantering  tone. 

**  Large  enough  to  take  care  of  a  dozen  like  yours,"  wan 
the  answer. 

"  I  don't  believe  it." 

"  Then  dismount,  and  see  for  yourself." 

I  was  about  to  dismount,  but  not  with  the  intention  of  sur- 
rendering, when  Murden  took  up  the  conversation. 

"We  surrender,"  he  said,  "but  we  demand  good  treat- 
ment." 

"  As  good  as  you  deserve,"  was  the  answer. 

""V\Tio  in  the,  deuce  can  they  be  ? "  whispered  Murden. 
"  I  have  heard  of  no  gang  of  bushrangers  operating  on  the 
Bendigo  road.     Blast  the  luck !  " 

"  Put  on  the  handcuffs  and  disarm  the  prisoners.  Lead  the 
horses  to  the  camp.     Close  in,  men,"  thundered  the  captain. 

Murden  was  about  to  utter  an  indignant  remonstrance  ; 
but  just  at  that  moment  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  costume  of 
our  captors,  and  he  shook  with  silent  laughter,  as  he  whis- 
pered,— 

"  By  the  Lord  Harry,  if  we,  ain't  in  the  hands  of  the 
mounted  police  of  Bendigo  !  " 

"  We  swear  to  you,"  I  cried,  as  they  produced  their  hand- 
cuffs, "  that  we  will  make  no  effort  to  escape." 

"  Bah  !  bosh  !  don't  talk  in  that  way.  We  are  not  to  be 
blarneyed  \)j  such  as  you.     We  know  you  too  well." 

Of  course  we  had  to  submit,  although  Sir  William  uttered 
a  deep  groun  when  he  found  a  pair  of  steel  bracelets  on  his 
aristocratic  wrists,  and  the  commissioner  would  have  uttered 
roars  of  rage,  if  I  had  not  restrained  him.  The  police 
closed  around  us,  and  marched  us  through  the  bush  for 
about  a  •][uartcr  of  a  mile.  We  then  saw  a  lire,  three  men 
sitting  around  it,  and  drinking  coffee  with  as  much  relish  a.i 


380  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

if  they  had  been  "vrithout  for  two  days.  This  agreeable  oc- 
cupation was  suspended  when  we  were  fairly  within  the 
light  of  the  flames. 

"Well,"  said  the  man,  who  appeared  to  be  in  authoiity. 
Betting  his  tin  cup  down  on  the  ground,  "  you  have  secured 
them,  have  you  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir;  here  they  are." 

"  Did  they  show  fight  ?  Did  they  injure  any  of  our  men  ?  " 
s^ked  the  chief. 

"  No,  sir.  Lord,  they  was  awful  glum  when  we  took  *em. 
They  didn't  raise  a  hand.  They  didn't  seem  to  have  no  more 
gpunk  than  so  many  sheep.  I  tell  yer  we  took  the  fight  out 
of  'em." 

"  Wliat  in  the  devil's  name  do  they  take  us  for  ?  "  whis- 
pered Sir  William. 

"  Bushrangers,"  I  answered. 

When  the  chief  spoke,  I  thought  that  I  recollected  his  voice 
vwd  form,  and  I  was  trying  to  think  of  his  name  ;  but  just  as 
I  answered  the  baronet,  some  one  called  the  policeman  Mr. 
Commissioner  Brown,  and  then  it  struck  me  that  I  had  thus 
singularly  fallen  upon  my  old  Ballarat  friend,  whom  I  had 
not  seen  since  I  returned  to  Australia.  The  idea  of  our 
thus  meeting  was  so  laughable  that  I  could  no  longer  con- 
tain myself,  and  I  roared  outright,  to  the  intense  surprise  of 
my  friends  and  the  policemen  who  surrounded  us. 


CHAPTER   LIX. 

UEETING    AN    OLD    FRIEND. A   DISAGREEABLE    SURPRISE.  — 

A    COUNCIL    OF    WAR. 

The  Bendigo  commissioner,  after  he  was  once  on  his  feet, 
Burveyed  us  by  the  light  of  the  flames  with  much  com- 
placency. 

*'  A  worse  looking  set  of  ruffians  I  never  saw  in  my  life,** 
he  romarked.     "  Bascal  is  stamped  on  every  feature." 


MEETING  OF  AN   OLD  IRIEND.  38'* 

Considering  the  darkness  we  did  not  tbink  the  criticism  a 
fair  one,  so  only  laughed  at  it ;  not  low,  in  fear  and  trembling 
hut  with  a  hearty  roar,  as  though  we  felt  all  that  we  uttered. 
The  commissioner  started  back,  astonished  and  confounded. 

"You  hardened  wretches  ! "  he  said,  "  you'll ,  cry  before 
^  >u  laugh  much  more.     Your  crimes  —  "  ^ 

"  0,  gammon  ! "  I  interrupted.  "  What  do  you  think  of 
3  3Lirself  ?" 

**  You  insolent  scoundrel,  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Just  what  I  say.     I  could  tell  some  hard  stories  of  you.'* 

"  And  so  could  I,"  laughed  Mr.  Murden. 

Brown  was  petrified  with  rage  and  astonishment.  At  last 
he  broke  out :  — 

"  You  villains  !  I'll  see  you  hanged  before  many  days. 
Grallows  is  written  all  over  your  faces.  I  never  saw  three 
men  with  such  ugly  mugs." 

We  renewed  our  laughter  at  this.  The  joke  was  too  good 
to  remain  quiet. 

*'•  Shall  I  whack  'em  over  the  head  with  my  carbine  ? "  asked 
the  man  who  had  commanded  the  party  that  had  captured  us. 

"  Do  if  you  dare  !  "  cried  Sir  William,  who  could  no  longer 
control  his  indignation.  "  If  you  offer  the  least  violence 
beyond  what  you  have  committed,  I'll  see  that  the  police 
department  is  cleared  of  ^uch  abusive  ruffians.  These  gen- 
tlemen," pointing  to  us, /' may  think  that  there  is  something 
of  a  joke  in  being  handcuffed,  but  I  must  say  that  I. am  un- 
eble  to  see  it  as  yet." 

Even  Mr.  Brown,  the  Bendigo  commissioner,  was  aston- 
iphed,  for  he  stopped  and  pondered  over  the  words  of  the 
baronet,  as  though  wondering  if  it  were  possible  a  bushranger 
could  utter  them.      Finally  he  managed  to  ask  a  question. 

"  Who  in  the  devil's  name  are  you  ? "  he  thundered. 

We  hesitat-ed  a  moment,  to  see  if  we  had  carried  the  joke 
far  enough  ;  but  Mr.  Brown  was  impatient. 

"  Speak.     Who  are  you  ? "  he  cried. 

"  This  gentleman,"  I  said,  pointing  my  manacled  hands 

towards  the  baronet,  *'  is  Sir  William  Byefield,  of  Lancaster." 

The  nolice  mtered  a  shout  of  laughter.     They  thoup-ht 


882  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

(hat  we  w  re  romancing.  Even  Mr.  Brown  allowed  his  darli 
j'eatures  to  relax  a  very  little.  I  waited  until  the  mirth  had 
subsided,  and  then  continued  in  a  calm  tone,  impressive  as 
possible :  — 

"  This  gentleman,"  pointing  to  the  commissioner  of  Mel- 
bourne, "  the  man  whom  you  characterize  as  the  ugliest 
looking  ruffian  that  you  ever  saw  —  " 

There  was  a  gesture  of  impatience  from  Murden.  He 
didn't  like  such  a  compliment. 

"  Is  no  less  a  person  than  Mr.  Commissioner  Murden,  of 
Melbourne,  out  on  a  scout." 

There  was  another  laugh  on  the  part  of  the  police,  but  it 
was  not  so  loud  as  before.  Mr.  Brown  did  not  even  smile. 
He  began  to  meditate. 

"  And  who  are  you,  sir  ? "  he  asked,  in  a  slightly  sarcastic 
tone. 

"  "Will  you  allow  me  to  whisper  my  name  in  your  ear  ^ " 

'*  Yes  ;  come  near  me  and  do  so." 

I  stepped  forward,  and  whispered  the  cognomen  by  which 
1  was  known  at  Ballarat  during  the  first  year  of  my  residence 
at  that  interesting  place.  Mr.  Brown  started  back,  perfectly 
overpowered  with  astonishment.  For  a  moment  he  could 
not  speak.  Then  he  rallied,  sprang  towards  me,  tore  the 
hat  from  my  head,  turned  do^vn  the  coat  collar  that  shaded 
my  face,  gave  one  long,  earnest  look,  and  the  next  instant, 
with  a  yell  of  joy,  he  threw  his  arms  around  me,  and  hugged 
me  with  as  much  zeal  as  though  I  were  a  woman,  and  he 
in  love  with  me,  and  had  just  received  permission  to  take 
feuch  an  important  liberty. 

"  You  dear  old  cuss  ! "  laughed  and  cried  the  Bendigo 
commissioner  in  the  same  breath.  "  How  came  you  here  ? 
Who  expected  to  Fee  you  just  at  this  time  ?  When  did  you 
arrive  in  Victoria  ?     Speak  to  me.     Tell  me  something." 

"  How  can  I  do  so,  when  my  hands  are  ornamented  with 
these  bracelets,  and  when  you  are  squeezing  me  to  death  in 
Rn  embrace  like  that  of  an  anaconda  ? " 

Mr.  Brown   suddenly  relaxed  his  hold,  and  shouted, — 

-*  Take  off  those  irons  this  instant.     Be  quick  about  ii. 


A  DISAGREEABLE  SURPRISE.  385 

What  in  the  devil  do  you  mean  by  jDutting  irons  on  the  best 
friend  I  ever  had  ?     Off  with  them." 

"  And  mine  too,"  cried  Murden.  *'  I've  worn  them  lon^ 
enough.     Take  them  off." 

"  Of  course  I  will.  Old  fellow,  why  didn't  you  utter  your 
name  before  ?     If  you  had  but  said  who  you  were  —  " 

*'  But  what  are  we  to  do  now  ? "  asked  Sir  "William,  when  we 
.had  explained  matters.  *'  Can't  we  continue  the  pursuit  ? 
Remember,  we  are  losing  time." 

*'  "Which  we  can  make  up  at  daylight,"  answered  Mr.  Br(  ^li. 
**  The  fox  is  heading  towards  Bendigo.  There  we  can  rut 
him  to  earth  m  good  time.     There  is  no  occasion  for  haste." 

"  You  don't  know  a  parent's  anxiety,"  murmured  the  baro- 
net in  a  low  tone. 

Just  at  that  moment  a  cry  that  reminded  me  of  the  howl- 
ing of  a  pack  of  hungry  wolves  started  us,  and  caused  us 
to  hold  our  breath,  uncertain  whether  we  were  attacked  by 
men  or  fiends,  devils  or  natives.  Once  more  the  yell  was 
uttered ;  and  then  we  heard  the  galloping  of  horses,  tearing 
through  the  bush  as  though  ten  thousand  devils  were  on  their 
backs  ;  but  above  the  tramping  of  steeds  I  thought  that  I  could 
hear  a  burst  of  sardonic  laughter,  as  if  some  fiend  were  chuck- 
ling at  our  astonishment.  The  police,  who  were  rolled  up  in 
their  blankets  and  mosquito  nets,  struggled  to  their  feet,  and 
grasped  their  carbines,  as  though  to  resist  a  desperate  attack. 
For  one  moment  there  was  silence,  and  then  the  hoarse  voice 
of  Mr.  Brown  was  heard,  as  he  shouted,  — 

"  Give  them  a  voUey,  men  !  Fire  high,  so  as  not  to  kill 
the  horses." 

There  was  an  irregular  discharge  ;  but  as  the  men  could 
see  nothing,  and  could  only  judge  of  the  position  of  the 
horses  by  the  noise,  it  was  not  very  effectual.  In  fact,  I 
don't  think  that  a  single  animal  was  touched.  For  a 
moment  after  the  guns  were  fired  there  was  silence,  and  then 
came  a  ringing  laugh,  a  regular  ha,  ha,  ha !  of  the  mocking 
description,  and  the  sound  of  horses'  feet  died  away.  The 
oolice  started  in  pursuit ;  but  IMr.  Brown  called  them  back. 

**You  fools,"   he  renarked,  in  a   complimentary   tone, 


J4  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

**  don*t  you  know  that  it's  of  no  use  to  run  after  a  n.:  i 
who's  on  horseback  ?     Come  back,  I  tell  you  !  " 

The  men  returned  in  a  sullen,  dejected  manner,  as  though 
they  had  not  been  treated  just  right ;  while  the  rest  of  us 
looked  at  the  fire,  and  at  each  other,  and  wondered  what 
we  were  to  do,  hunting  for  the  Pet  and  Miss  Jenny  on  foot. 
"Tell  me  the  meanin;^  of  this  confusion,  this  sudden 
attack,"  Sir  William  said. 

"  Well,  you  see.  Sir  William,"  returned  Mr.  Brown,  "  th: 
confounded  bushrangers  have  rather  stolen  a  march  on  us. 
More's  the  pity,  I  say." 

"  Amen  to  that,"  muttered  Murden. 

"  What  are  we  to  do  for  horses  ?  "  demanded  Sir  William. 
"  We  can't  continue  the  pursuit  on  foot." 

"  That's  a  question  that  I  can't  answer,  Sir  William.  All 
that  I  can  think  about  is  the  fact  that  we  have  been  sur- 
prised, and  our  horses  stampeded.  Now,  who  has  done  this 
bold,  yet  neat  trick  ? " 

Mr.  Brown  looked  around  upon  his  audience,  and  waited 
for  an  answer.  As  Murden  did  not  speak,  I  thought  I 
would  utter  my  sentiments. 

"  There  are  none  so  blind  as  those  who  will  not  see," 
T  said.  "»You  have  had  repeated  warnings  of  the  sudden 
and  stealthy  attacks  of  the  bushrangers ;  yet  you  will  not 
gain  by  experience.  You  knew  that  Mad  Dick  was  near  us, 
that  he  must  be  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood ;  yet  what 
do  I  find  ?  There  is  no  guard  set  over  the  horses,  afthough 
you  have  some  twenty  men.  All  lie  down  to  sleep,  and 
trust  to  fortune  to  keep  Mad  Dick  at  a  distance.  If  you 
would  find  your  animals,  you  must  seek  for  them." 

"  Then  you  think  that  that  bushranger  has  done  the  job  ? ' 
asked  Mr.  Brown. 

"  Yes ;  he  and  others  whom  he  picked  up  on  the  road." 

"  Then  I'll  punch  Mad  Dick's  head  the  very  first  time 
that  we  meet,"  said  Mr.  Brown,  in  an  emphatic  manner. 

With  this  resolution  he  threw  out  some  pickets,  while  the 
rest  of  us  rolled  our  heads  in  blankets,  and  went  to  sleep : 
for  it  was  useless  to  pursue  at  that  hour  of  the  night 


1.S  PURSUIT.  385 


CHAPTER   LX. 

IN   PURSUIT. A   SURPRISE. A   BLOW    ON   THE   HEAD. 

THE    CONFERENCE. A  PRISONER. A  FEW    REMARKS  BY 

MISS   JENNY. HER    VISIT    AND    ASSISTANCE. 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?"  asked  Mr.  Brown,  as  soon  li  >  wo 
lad  eaten  breakfast  and  packed  up  our  traps. 

"  Push  on  for  Bendigo  as  soon  as  possible,"  was  the  gen- 
eral reply. 

In  a  short  time  we  were  off,  each  of  us  with  our  blankets 
strapped  on  our  backs  ;  while  the  rest  of  our  traps  were  left 
behind,  under  a  guard  of  ten  men,  who  were  to  be  sent  for 
as  soon  as  we  reached  Bendigo.  We  were  some  time  in 
getting  clear  of  the  bush  and  trees ;  but  at  last  we  struck 
the  plain  and  the  road,  and  although  the  travel  was  hard 
and  unusual  to  most  of  us,  still  we  trudged  on  most  man- 
fully until  near  ten  o'clock,  when  we  found  the  sun  so  over- 
poweringly  hot  that  we  were  compelled  to  call  a  halt,  and  seek 
for  rest  and  shade.  Away  on  the  right  was  a  forest  of  gum 
trees,  and  towards  that  forest  we  directed  our  weary  steps. 
Panting,  thirsty,  and  covered  with  dust,  we  gained  the 
•*hade  and  threw  ourselves  down,  too  much  exhausted  to 
-exchange  congratulations  on  the  fact  that  we  had  found 
leaves  to  screen  us  from  the  hot  sun.  The  day  passed  most 
tjlowly.  Towards  the  close  of  the  afternoon  I  wandered  off 
int'.)  the  dense  forest  for  the  purpose  of  looking  up  game ; 
for  it  seemed  to  me  that  activity  was  better  than  moppin^i^ 
sne's  face,  and  brushing  away  flies  and  mosquitos.  I  found 
«ome  relief  in  walking.  The  insects  did  not  bite  as  savagely 
A'hile  I  was  in  motion  as  they  did  when  I  sat  still ;  so  I 
continued  on  until  I  was  warned  that  I  had  strayed  i-ir 
enough,  and  that  it  was  time  to  join  my  companions.  J 
turned  to  retrace  my  steps  ;  but  just  at  that  moment  I  caught 
my  foot  in  what  seemed  a  vine.  The  shock  was  so  great 
that  I  staggered,  and   in  attempting  to  recover  my  upright 


886  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

position,  I  giasped  at  some  bushes  that  grew  near  me. 
They  were  large  and  thick,  and  seemed  capable  of  sustain- 
ing my  weight.  As  I  touched  them  they  yielded,  giving 
way  so  quick  that  I  was  a  little  surprised ;  but  as  I  fell  I  felt 
that  my  feet  were  in  something  more  than  the  curl  of  a  viuGj 
lud  looking  down  I  saw,  squat  behind  the  bushes,  the  grin- 
aing  and  repulsive  faces  of  Bill  Sykes  and  Mad  Dick. 

"  Give  him  a  lurch,  Bill,"  said  the  gruff  tones  of  Mad 
Dick.     *'  We  don't  want  none  of  his  backers  here." 

The  Manchester  Pet,  in  obedience  to  the  command,  did 
give  me  a  lurch,  and  a  disagreeable  one  it  was  ;  for  he  sud- 
denly gave  a  pull,  and  over  I  went,  head  first,  into  some 
bushes,  so  that  the  free  use  of  my  arms  was  required  to 
prevent  my  eyes  from  being  destroyed.  The  cunning  ras- 
cals had  caught  me  in  a  trap.  The  instant  I  struck  the 
bushes,  I  heard  the  Pet  say,  — 

"  Let  me  give  him  a  shot  and  finish  him." 

"  And  bring  the  whole  gang  down  on  us  ?  "  growled  Mad 
Dick. 

*'  I  should  think  I  might  put  him  out  of  the  way,"  snarled 
the  Pet.  "  He's  a  blasted  spy,  and  don't  desarve  any  mercy 
from  me  nor  my  gal." 

"  Ain't  there  time  enough  for  all  that  ? "  asked  Mad  Dick, 
in  a  tone  that  savored  of  impatience.  "  Don't  we  want  to 
learn  a  few  particulars  ? " 

"  But,  cuss  him !  he's  a  slippery  customer,  and  he  may 
get  off.'' 

"  There  ain't  no  more  chance  for  him  than  there  is  for 
you  to  go  to  heaven,"  returned  Mad  Dick,  in  a  tone  that  ad- 
mitted of  no  argument. 

"  Turn  him  over,  and  let's  see  what  he's  up  to  now,"  the 
bushranger  continued. 

The  Pet  seized  me  with  no  gentle  hand,  took  my  pistol 
and  knife,  and  then  turned  me  so  that  they  could  look  at  my 
face.  The  prize-fighter  must  have  seen  something  in  my 
eyes  that  expressed  the  abhorrence  with  which  I  regarded 
him,  for  he  assumed  a  savage,  prize-ring  look,  and  then,  im- 
%ble  to  control  his  temper,  raised  my  pistol  and  struck  me  a 


A  BLOW  o:n  the  head.  587 

riolenl  blow  upon  tlie  head,  so  hard  that  it  seemed  as  though 
he  had  crushed  the  skull,  for  I  felt  the  blood  spirt  over  my 
face ;  a  dull  pain  passed  over  my  eyes  and  shot  through  my 
temples,  and  then  all  grew  dark  and  silent.  When  I  recov- 
ered my  senses,  I  found  that  I  was  lying  on  my  back  en  the 
ground.  My  pains  were  so  severe  that  I  had  some  trouble 
in  moving ;  but  at  last  I  dragged  my  body  about  in  the  dark, 
felt  with  n.y  hands,  and  found  that  I  was  in  some  kind 
of  a  room,  which  was  small,  and  constructed  in  the  rudest 
manner. 

For  a  short  period  I  cursed  myself  for  visiting  Australia 
for  the  second  time.  I  thought,  what  a  fool  I  was  to  knock  my 
head  against  every  obstruction  that  I  met,  and  for  meddling 
in  matters  that  did  not  concern  me.  Why  did  I  not  remain 
in  Melbourne  and  assist  Hez,  who  was  hard  at  work  on  his 
quartz-crushers  ? 

While  these  subjects  were  p'kssing  through  my  mind,  I 
thought  I  heard  a  movement  in  another  room,  and  after  a 
while  I  was  certain  that  my  surmises  were  correct ;  for  some 
Dne  uttered  an  emphatic  oath,  and  damned  the  matches  in 
;he  most  energetic  manner  because  he  could  not  light  a  can- 
ule  with  them. 

I  remained  quiet,  and  listened;  but  after  a  candle  was 
lighted  I  crawled  to  one  of  the  cracks  of  the  partition,  and 
peered  through.  The  sight  that  met  my  view  was  a  surpris- 
ing one.  I  saw,  seated  at  the  table  as  though  they  had  just 
entered  the  hut,  the  Manchester  Pet  and  Mad  Dick ;  while  ia 
a  corner,  looking  as  cold  and  as  haughty  as  ever,  was  ^tisg 
Jenny.  The  two  men  were  eating  boiled  mutton,  and  be. 
tween  them  was  a  black  bottle,  suggestive  of  spirit. 

For  a  while  the  men  were  too  busily  engaged  in  eating  to 
exchange  a  word ;  but  at  last  the  Pet  looked  towards  JcLnj , 
and,  with  some  show  of  affection,  remarked,  — 

"  Well,  lass,  has  you  bin  lonesome  like,  all  alone  ? '' 

"  You  know  I  have,"  returned  the  girl,  in  a  cold,  calm 
tone.  "  How  could  I  help  being  tired  and  lonesome,  all 
alone,  out  here  in  the  brush  r " 

"  We1],  well,  lass,  don't  scold.  In  a  few  days  we  will  be 
26 


588  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

off.  We  has  thrown  the  traps  off  the  scent.  They  has  started 
for  Bendigo  as  fast  as  their  legs  can  carry  'em." 

''  And  they  has  lost  the  number  of  their  mess,"  chuckled 
Mad  Dick.     "  Pass  the  rum." 

*'  Devilish  lucky  the  young  scamp  left  his  dog  in  the  city," 
remarked  the  Pet,  after  he  had  tasted  his  liquor.  "  We 
should  have  had  to  finish  'em  both,  and  that  might  have  been 
iroullesonje." 

There  was  silence  for  a  moment ;  and  then  Jenny  raised 
her  blue  eyes,  so  cold  and  calm,  and  asked,  — 

"  Who  have  you  got  in  that  room  ?  I've  heard  him  groan 
all  day,  and  if  you  hadn't  taken  the  key  Pd  gone  in  and  seed 
him.     Who  is  it  ? " 

*'  Never  you  mind,"  returned  the  Pet,  "  who  it  is." 

'*  But  I  does  mind.     Who  is  it  ? " 

"  Why  don't  you  tell  the  lass,"  demanded  Mad  Dick. 
"  She'll  be  as  glad  as  we  is  tt)  think  that  we  has  him." 

The  Pet  hesitated,  and  looked  at  the  girl  as  though  he 
would  refuse  her  request  if  he  dared.     At  last  he  said,  — 

"  It's  some  cove  what  j^ou  hates,  Jenny." 

"  Well,  who  ?  "  with  an  impatient  gesture. 

"  Well,  it's  that  police  spy,  you  know.  The  one  what  had 
your  daddy  nabbed,  arter  he  choked  him  at  the  Bed  Lion.'* 

"  0,"  the  girl  said,  and  shut  her  finely-carved  mouth  in  a 
resolute  manner. 

"Yes",  lass,  it's  him;  and,  now  that  we  has  him,  we  don't 
mean  that  he  shall  get  away  in  a  hurry.  His  friends  might 
just  as  well  settle  up  his  estate,  'cos  I  don't  think  that  he  will 
claim  it." 

"  0,"  was  all  the  remark  that  Jenny  made  ;  but  she 
nodded  her  pretty  head  several  times,  as  though  she  com- 
prehended. 

"  Ye  see  the  cove  has  gin  us  trouble  enough,"  continued 
the  Pet.  *'  It's  time  he  was  out  of  the.  way.  He's  hurt 
our  business  more'n  any  other  man.  Blast  him  !  He  driv 
me  out  of  Melbourne.  But  only  for  a  short  time,  lass.  I 
shall  go  back  agin." 

'*  To  be  sure  you  will,"  cried  Mad  Dick,  in  a  hearty  tone. 


THE  CONFERENCE.  389 

with  another  pull  at  the  liquor.  "  Arter  we  gets  a  few  things 
settled  we  all  three  will  jist  leave  this  country,  and  find  a 
place  where  we  can  live  like  gentlemen.  I'm  tired  of  being 
hunted  like  a  wild  dog." 

"  That's  the  dodge,"  remarked  the  Pet.  ''  I'll  jist  sell 
what  I  has  and  cut  stick.  But  we  has  much  to  do  afore 
that.  We  must  throw  the  traps  off  the  track,  and  make  'em 
think  we  is  lost.     Yes,  we  must  keep  out  of  sight,  Dick." 

"  You  don't  'spose  that  I'm  goin'  to  stand  out  in  front  of 
the  station,  and  shout  out  our  intentions,  do  you  ?  "  asked 
Mad  Dick. 

"  No  ;  but  I  thought  that  you  seemed  a  little  shaky  to-day 
arter  I  had  cracked  the  Yankee  spy's  skull." 

Jenny  raised  her  eyes,  and  looked  full  at  her  father's  face, 
as  though  suddenly  interested  in  the  conversation. 

"  Didn't  I  teU  you  that  if  we  had  dished  the  feller  that  the 
traps  would  have  hunted  for  a  week  but  they  would  have 
found  us,  and  the  place  where  we  is  tied  up  ? "  Mad  Dick 
asked,  in  an  impatient  tone.  "  Don't  I  know  how  much  them 
commissioners  sot  by  him  ?  They  would  have  revenged  hia 
death  in  some  way,  I  tell  you." 

The  Pet  grumbled,  and  acquiesced  in  the  opinion.  Then 
he  helped  himself  to  liquor,  and  appeared  to  find  consolation 
in  the  bottle.  Jenny,  I  noticed,  was  listening  to  the  conver- 
sation, although  she  did  not  appear  to  care  for  it. 

"  Yes,"  continued  Mad  Dick,  in  a  musing  tone,  "  arter  all, 
I'm  sorry  that  you  smashed  the  young  kite's  head,  'cos  I 
think  that  if  we  had  been  pushed  that  we  could  have  used 
him." 

"  But  he's  a  rat  —  a  spy,"  hissed  the  Pet. 

"  0,  gammon  !  You  has  been  a  spy  long  enough  foi  the 
traps  to  know  better  than  that.  He  ain't  no  more  a  spy 
than  I  is." 

Miss  Jenny  raised  her  eyes  to  Mad  Dick's  face,  and  ap- 
peared more  and  more  interested. 

"  Well,  what  is  he  then  ? " 

'*  He's  what  they  call  a  ventersome  Yankee  —  a  feller 
what  likes  excitement,  and  helps  his  friends.     That's  what 


590  THE  BUSHRAl^GEKS 

he  is  ;  and  I'm  sorry  that  you  rapped  liim,  'cos  I  think  that 
we  might  have  used  him." 

lie  took  up  the  bottle  as  he  spoke,  but  it  was  empty. 
Miss  Jenny  noticed  the  fact,  arose,  and  took  from  a  box 
another  bottle,  apparently  full,  and  placed  it  before  the  Pet. 

"  Well  done,  lass.  I  thought  that  you  said  we  shouldn't 
Bwill  but  one  can  ?  " 

"  I  have  altered  my  mind,"  was  all  the  reply  that  she 
made,  as  she  resumed  her  seat. 

"  May  you  keep  on  altering  your  mind,  if  it  is  as  good  as 
this,"  replied  the  giant,  and  filled  his  glass. 

"It's  too  late  to  cry  about  spilt  milk,"  Sykes  remarked, 
as  he  tasted  the  liquor.  "  The  feller's  head  is  smashed,  and 
there's  an  end  of  it.  As  far  as  I'm  concerned,  I  wish  that 
it  had  finished  him ;  but,  as  it  didn't,  why  I  'spose  we  must 
let  him  die  where  he  is.  He  won't  forget  the  blow  in  a 
hurry." 

The  future  did  indeed  look  dark  and  gloomy;  and  so  over- 
come did  I  feel,  that  I  was  compelled  to  lay  my  aching  head 
on  my  arm,  and  allow  a  groan  of  anguish  to  escape  from  me. 

"  HuUo ! "  Mad  Dick  said,  "  our  bird  is  awake  and  singing. 
Wonder  how  he  feels." 

**  Give  me  the  key,  and  let  me  go  and  see."  Jenny  re- 
marked. 

'*  No,  you  stay  here,"  Sykes  cried,  in  a  stern  tone.  "  Let 
the  cove  die.  We  has  enough  to  do  to  take  care  of  our- 
selves." 

Jenny,  when  she  was  refused,  did  not  manifest  the  least 
disposition  to  complain.  I  think  that  the  pain  I  endured 
rather  stupefied  me,  for  I  lost  all  consciousness,  or  appeared 
to  fall  into  an  uneasy  sleep  ;  and,  when  I  awakened,  the  light 
in  the  next  room  was  burning  dim,  and  the  two  men  wera 
resting  their  heads  on  the  table,  and  appeared  to  be  sleeping 
quite  sound,  judging  from  the  snoring.  Although  the  efforts 
which  I  made  were  painful,  yet  I  managed  to  rest  my  head 
on  my  arm,  and  peer  through  the  crack  of  the  partition. 
At  first  I  thought  that  Miss  Jenny  was  sleeping ;  but,  while 
I  looked,  she  glanced  at  the  slumbering  men,  then  arose  in  a 


A  FEW   KEMAEKS  BY  MISS  JENNY.  391 

careful  manner,  removed  the  candle  from  the  table,  trimme'l 
it,  and  then  put  her  hand  in  her  father's  pocket,  and  took 
out  a  key.  It  suddenly  flashed  across  my  mind  that  Miss 
elenny  was  about  to  pay  me  a  visit.  I  was  so  much  agitated 
at  the  thought  that  I  could  hardly  restrain  myself.  My  heart 
throbbed  wildly,  and  my  wound  appeared  to  bleed  afresh, 
Buch  was  my  emotion. 

I  had  but  just  time  to  lay  my  head  on  the  ground  when 
Miss  Jenny  entered  the  room.  For  a  moment  she  stood 
near  the  entrance,  looking  towards  me,  or  endeavoring  to 
discover  in  which  part  of  the  room  I  was.  It  was  so  dark 
that  she  could  not  see  where  I  was  lying.  I  remained  quiet, 
watching  her  motions.  I  knew  her  disposition,  and  was 
aware  thah  I  must  permit  her  to  do  as  she  pleased,  or  she 
would  have  a  fit  of  the  sulks,  and  leave  me  in  disgust.  So 
I  waited,  with  a  beating  heart  and  aching  head,  for  her  to 
speak  to  me,  and  make  known  her  plans. 

"  Are  you  awake  ?  "  she  asked  at  length. 

I  did  not  answer,  but  managed  to  breathe  as  though  I  was 
in  distress ;  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  was,  for  my  head  ached 
as  though  it  would  split  open. 

"  Where  are  you  ?  "  asked  Jenny,  in  a  whisper. 

I  still  maintained  silence. 

She  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  left  me,  but  quickly 
returned  with  the  light  in  her  hand.  She  held  it  up,  so  that 
its  rays  fell  upon  my  head,  and  then  advanced,  and  knelt  be- 
fiide  me. 

I  opened  my  eyes,  and  looked  her  full  in  the  face. 

"  Do  ^ou  know  me  ? "  she  asked. 

I  murmm-ed  a  feeble  "  yes." 

It  was  my  intention  to  appear  more  injured  than  I  reaHj 
was. 

"  Then  don't  talk,  but  let  me  help  you.  Hold  still  while 
I  look  at  your  wound." 

She  examined  the  wound  carefully,  and  I  heard  her  sigh 
as  she  did  so.  Her  hands  trembled  as  she  pulled  aside  the 
matted  hair;  yet  her  touch  was  as  light  and  delicate  as  a 
young  girl  nursing  a  lover. 


592  THE  BUSHEANGEES. 

"You  hive  a  terrible  injury,"  she  said.  **No  wondei 
your  head  aches.  Sarves  you  right  for  not  mindin'  your  own 
business.  What  did  you  want  to  chase  after  us  for  ?  Didn't 
you  know  any  better  ? " 

I  considered  this  rather  a  poor  return  for  the  trouble  I  had 
taken  on  her  behalf;  but  I  stifled  my  resentment,  and  made 
no  reply.  I  thought  that,  if  she  ever  learned  how  much  I 
had  done  for  her,  she  would  feel  sorry  for  her  words,  and 
the  manner  in  which  she  had  treated  me. 

"  I  jist  learned  from  a  friend  of  my  dad's  that  you  ain't  a 
police  spy.  I  can  believe  him,  although  the  governor  says 
you  is  in  with  the  traps,  and  does  their  spying  business. 
You  don't,  do  you  ? " 

I  thought  that  she  spoke  in  a  manner  tha\^  showed  she 
wanted  me  to  answer  in  the  negative ;  that  she  desired  the 
question  settled  at  once  and  forever. 

"  I  have  always  told  you  that  I  was  not  a  spy,"  I  replied ; 
"  but  you  would  not  believe  me.  Grive  me  some  water  to 
drink,  for  I'm  parched  with  fever  and  thirst." 

She  left  me,  and  returned  with  a  tin  pot  full  of  water.  I 
was  so  thirsty  that  it  seemed  as  though  water  never  tasted 
as  well.     I  emptied  the  pot,  and  uttered  a  sigh  of  relief. 

"  Now  wait,  and  I'll  wash  some  of  the  blood  from  yer 
head." 

"  And  if  tiiey  should  wake  up,  and  discover  you  with  me, 
what  would  itiej  say  ? "  I  asked. 

*'  I  don't  Q^TQ  what  they  say.  I  ain't  afeard  of  'em.  If 
they  talks  to  me,  I'll  jist  talk  back,  and  give  'em  as  good 
as  they  send." 

I  could  not  but  admire  her  independence,  although  I  did  not 
relish  the  manner  in  which  she  expressed  herself.  It  was 
Red  Lion  style ;  but  the  girl  knew  no  better. 

I  had  half  a  mind  to  tell  her  the  secret  of  her  birth ;  but 
I  thought  better  of  it,  and  concluded  that  it  would  take  too 
long.  Besides,  I  did  not  know  how  it  would  affect  her.  I 
thought  that  my  head  was  of  more  account,  by  the  manner  in 
which  it  ached,  than  a  long  history  of  her  early  misfortune». 

She  left  me,  and  returned  with  water  and  rags.     For  the 


HER  VISIT  AND  ASSISTANCE.  393 

latter  I  was  inclined  to  think  that  she  had  torn  up  a  handker- 
chief;  for  I  saw  a  little  needle-work  in  one  of  the  corners. 
At  any  rate,  the  cloth  was  soft,  and  her  touch  light ;  but  her 
task  was  difficult.  She  had  to  use  a  pair  of  scissors  quite 
freely,  cutting  off  matted  hair  that  clung  to  the  wound,  and 
had  dried  there  stiff  and  hard.  I  bore  the  pain  without  a 
murmur  ;  but,  in  spite  of  my  silence.  Miss  Jenny  would  con- 
tinue to  whisper  to  me,  sometimes  in  a  tone  o^  pity,  and 
again  in  a  manner  that  showed  she  wanted  to  scold. 

"  I  don't  know  what's  goin'  to  become  of  yer,"  she  said. 
"  Here's  one  side  of  yer  head  all  caved  in.  Yer  might  have 
known  that  the  governor  could*' lick  a  dozen  jist  like  yer. 
He's  a  giant.  He's  strong.  Didn't  he  give  yer  thunder  one 
day  at  the  Red  Lion  ?  Wan't  that  enough  to  last  yer  ?  No, 
yer  must  try  yer  hand  agin.  I  don't  know  what's  to  become 
of  yer ! " 

"  Can't  I  escape  from  here  before  the  men  awake  ? " 

"  Yes,  if  yer  can  walk  thirty  miles  afore  they  moves." 

"  But  I  might  ride." 

"  Well,  what  is  yer  going  to  ride  in  or  on  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Horseback." 

"  Where  is  yer  hoss  ? " 

"  I  can  take  one  of  those  which  Sykes  and  Mad  Dick  stola 
from  the  traps  last  night." 

"  Can  yer  ? "  with  a  sneer  of  contempt.  "  Why,  them 
hosses  is  on  the  way  to  Ballarat,  where  they  will  be  sold 
cheap  for  cash,  and  the  money  divided  betwix  the  men  what 
did  the  trick." 

"  But  can't  I  use  the  carriage  and  horses  which  brought 
you  here  ? " 

"  Them  is  gone  back  to  Melbourne  by  the  hand  of  a  trusty 
eove  what  had  his  directions  how  to  move." 

I  uttered  a  sigh.  The  Pet  had  managed  shrewdly.  Ho 
had  acted  in  such  a  manner  that  all  traces  of  his  whereabouts 
would  be  lost. 

I  had  yet  another  question  —  one  of  importance.  •  I  waa 
desirous  of  seeing  if  she  suspected  the  reason  why  SyKes 
left  Melbourne  so  suddenly. 


A94  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"I  don't  know  as  it  is  any  of  yer  business,"  she  said,  in 
reply  to  my  question  ;  "  but  I  ain't  afeard  to  tell  yer,  so  now. 
The  governor  said  that  the  perlice  was  arter  him,  and  thai 
unless  we  cut  sticks  they'd  nab  us." 

"  I  wish.  Miss  Jenny,"  I  remarked,  in  a  soft  tone,  "  that 
you  would  be  a  little  more  choice  in  your  language." 

"What  do  you  mean  ?  "  she  asked ;  and  she  suspended  her 
operations  on  my  head  to  look  me  full  in  the  face,  her  large 
blue  eyes  extended  to  their  utmost  limits. 

*'  Why,  don't  use  words  which  a  young  lady  ought  not  to 
use.     Learn  to  speak  properly." 

**  Why,  blast  yer  impuderfte  !  I'm  a  good  mind  to  leave 
yer  wi^  j^er  head  half  dressed.  Can't  I  speak  as  well  as 
you  can  ?  " 

I  thought  that  I  had  made  an  unfortunate  attempt  to  cor- 
rect the  lady's  English,  and  that  I  had  better  postpone  the 
subject  until  some  more  favorable  opportunity. 

"  0,  yes,  you  can  speak  as  well,  and  your  voice  is  sweet- 
er," I  hastened  to  add. 

"  Then  what's  the  matter  with  me  ? "  and,  as  she  spoke, 
she  gave  my  head  a  sudden  jerk  which  sent  such  a  thrill  of 
pain  through  my  system  that  I  could  hardly  repress  a  cry  of 
agony. 

She  saw  me  put  my  hand  to  my  head  as  the  pain  darted 
through  my  temples  ;  and,  suspecting  what  she  had  done,  an 
expression  of  sympathy  passed  over  her  face. 

*'  Did  I  hurt  yer  ? "  she  asked ;  and  I  saw  in  her  beautiful 
countenance  the  sweet,  womanly  feeling  so  peculiar  to  a 
young  girl. 

"  Forgive  me,"  she  whispered ;  "  I  didn't  mean  to.  But 
you  hadn't  oughter  have  made  me  savage  by  slurring  me. 
You  know  it." 

*'  I  won't  again,"  I  answered,  finding  that  she  grew  worse 
and  worse.  She  was  like  a  young  panther,  all  claw:^,  and, 
unless  you  played  with  her  in  a  careful  manner,  would  get 
t',carred  for  life. 

*'  You'd  better  not,  unless  you  don't  want  to  see  me  no 
more." 


HER  VISIT  AND  ASSISTANCE.  ^Qfl 

At  this  point  of  tlie  conversation  she  arose  and  left  me; 
but  it  was  only  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  if  Sykes  and  Mad 
Dick  were  still  sleeping.  Finding  that  they  were,  she  went 
to  a  box,  took  out  a  bottle,  some  rags,  and  a  piece  of  phister. 
With  these  articles  in  her  hand,  she  returned  to  my  side, 
poured  out  some  spirit,  and  mixed  it  with  water,  and  then 
compelled  me  to  drink  it.  I  did  not  hesitate  long  about 
obeying  her.  Then  she  poured  the  spirit  upon  the  wound 
on  my  head,  saying  as  she  did  so,  — 

"  Now  grit  yei  teeth,  'cause  it  will  hurt." 

I  should  think  so,  and  the  warning  to  grit  my  teeth  was 
not  lost.  I  found  it  necessary  to  grind  them  together  in  an 
emphatic  manner,  to  prevent  shrieking  aloud  when  the  hot 
spirit  touched  my  wound.  It  seemed  as  though  it  would 
burn  my  brains  out,  shrivel  up  my  flesh,  and  drive  me  dis- 
tracted ;  and,  while  I  was  suffering  all  this,  Miss  Jenny  re- 
marked, in  a  cool  tone,  — 

"  Don't  you  make  a  noise." 

I  believe  that  the  little  witch  did  it  on  purpose,  to  puni&h 
me  for  what  I  had  done  in  the  way  of  correcting  her  expres- 
sions.    If  such  was  the  case,  she  had  a  fiendish  revenge. 

"  Does  it  hurt  ? "  Jenny  asked,  after  she  had  emptied  half 
the  contents  of  the  bottle  over  my  head. 

"  Yes  ;  the  liquor  is  very  powerful." 

*'  I  should  think  it  was.  It  even  can  knock  over  my  gov- 
ernor, and  it  takes  somethin'  strong  to  do  that.  He's  got 
more  strength  than  two  such  men  as  you." 

*'  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  yet  if  you  will  examine  his  face 
you  will  see  my  mark  there." 

'*A1:,  where  you  hit  him  with  the  beer  pot.  Now,  if  it 
want  for  that  same  lick  I  could  get  the  governor  lo  let  you 
run." 

**  But  there's  nothing  to  prevent  me  from  leaving  at  the 
present  time,"  I  remarked,  in  a  quiet  tone. 

'•Ain't  there?"  with  an  expression  of  scorn  that  was 
highly  amusing,  or  would  have  been  under  other  circum- 
stances. "  Perhaps  you  don't  think  me  somethin',"  tka 
young  girl  continued. 


396  THE  BUSHRANGEESL 

"  Yes,  I  think  a  great  deal  of  you,"  I  remarked. 

"Wall,  stop  that.  I  don't  want  no  love-making  round 
here.     I  knows  yer  and  yer  intentions." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  I  remarked,  in  a  quiet  tone.  "  I 
was  not  thinking  of  love  —  I  was  considering  how  I  should 
e,3cape  from  this  place  and  join  my  friends." 

"  Them  what  yer  has  in  the  other  world  ? " 

"  No,  those  on  earth.  I  have  no  desire  to  see  thwse  in 
heaven." 

"  Humph,  there  ain't  much  chance  of  that.  But  stop  yei 
noise,  and  don't  talk  trash.  If  yer  can  ^at  stick,  do  it.  I 
should  like  to  see  yer  walk  off,  'cos  I  tell  yer  my  governor 
will  starve  yer  to  death  if  he  can." 

"  And  will  you  consent  to  such  a  cruel  course  ?" 

*'  I  don't  know.  Yer  ain't  much  to  me.  'Tain't  so  bad  aa 
hittin'  a  cove  on  the  head  with  a  beer  pot." 

She  uttered  the  last  words  as  though  she  had  found  an 
argument  that  could  be  used  against  me  at  all  times,  and  with 
great  effect.  I  quailed  a  little,  but  soon  rallied,  and  told  her 
that  I  would  see  what  I  could  do  in  the  walking  line,  for 
I  did  not  dare  to  remain  and  trust  my  life  to  the  tender  mer- 
cies of  the  two  men  in  the  next  room. 

"  Wall,  let's  see  what  kind  of  a  fist  yer'll  make  on  yer 
feet." 

As  she  spOke  she  extended  her  hand,  and  helped  me  to 
stand  up.  As  soon  as  I  was  on  my  feet,  I  saw  that  it  was 
impossible  for  me  to  walk  any  great  distance  ;  that  I  was 
too  weak  and  dizzy  to  think  of  it.  Jenny  noticed  that  I 
could  hardly  stand,  and  with  happy  forethought  placed  one 
of  my  arms  around  her  waist. 

"  I  let  yer  do  it,"  she  said,  'cos  yer  eick.  If  yer  wan't, 
yer  shouldn't,  I  know." 

I  was  enabled,  by  holding  on  firmly  to  the  young  lady's 
waist,  to  steady  myself,  and  wait  until  the  first  paroxysm  of 
pain  and  weakness  had  passed  away ;  but  still  it  seemed  *Jiat 
T  could  not  walk  a  mile,  even  to  save  my  life.  The  blow  on 
my  head  had  been  too  severe,  and  I  had  lost  too  much  blood 
to  move  for  a  great  distance. 


HER  VISIT  AND  ASSISTANCE.  337 

•*  Yer  see  yer  can't  walk  thirty  miles,  don't  yer  ?  "  Misa 
Jenny  said. 

"  Yes." 

"  Wall,  what  yer  goin'  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  Can't  I  hide  in  some  of  the  bushes  near  at  hand,  and 
wait  till  I  gain  strength  ?  " 

She  thought  of  the  question  for  a  moment  before  she  re- 
plied to  it. 

"  You  might  do  that.  I  could  bring  yer  water  and  some- 
thin'  to  eat  every  time  I  had  a  chance." 

"  Besides,  I  could  take  a  supply  with  me,"  I  suggested. 

"  Wall,  I  think  that'll  work.  Come  out  in  the  air,  and  let's 
see  how  you  move." 

With  my  arm  firmly  clasped  around  the  waist  of  the  young 
girl,  so  that  I  could  walk  steadily,  I  stepped  into  the  room 
where  Mad  Dick  and  the  Pet  were  sleeping.  It  would  have 
been  an  easy  matter  for  me  to  have  killed  the  two  brutes, 
for  their  pistols  were  in  their  belts,  and  I  had  no  doubt  but 
that  they  were  loaded.  As  I  moved  on  very  slowly,  I  no- 
ticed that  the  Pet  had  my  revolver  in  one  of  his  pockets. 
As  I  needed  it  more  than  he  did,  I  just  took  po««^ssion, 
Jenny  making  no  objections.  Quiet  as  I  was,  however,  tha 
Pet  moved,  and  seemed  as  though  inclined  to  wake  up ;  but 
he  did  not,  while  Mad  Dick  slumbered  on  undisturbed. 

In  a  few  seconds  we  were  in  the  open  air,  cool,  clear,  and 
fresh,  so  different  from  the  interior  of  the  hut,  that  I  felt 
myself  growing  stronger.  I  removed  my  arm  from  the  girl's 
waist,  and  attempted  to  walk  without  her  support.  In  a  very 
short  time  I  was  convinced  that  my  strength  was  not  equal 
to  such  an  effort,  and  I  was  glad  to  return  to  the  tapered 
waist  of  Miss  Jenny,  while  she  saluted  me  with,  — 

"  There  now,  you  see  how  groggy  yer  is !  Yer  ain't  got 
no  wind,  and  a  child  could  knock  yer  out  of  time." 


898  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

CHAPTER  LXI. 

A   MOMElfTOTJS    QUESTION. A   TERRIBLE   STRUGGLE. 

*'  Come,"  she  said,  after  I  had  rested,  "yer  must  cut  out 
of  this.  Time's  up.  K  the  governor  should  suspect  yer*s 
out  here,  there'd  be  a  jolly  row.  Yer  must  stow  away  in 
thO^bushes  till  the  coast  is  clear," 

"  And  starve  ?  "  I  asked,  as  I  walked  by  her  side,  an  arm 
on  her  shoulder  to  prevent  me  from  staggering  through  ex- 
cess of  weakness. 

"No,  if  I  can  I'll  bring  yer  grub  every  day,  and  water 
too." 

"  0,  Jenny,"  I  cried,  "  don't  say  grub.     It's  so  vulgar." 

"Look  a-here,"  she  replied,  in  a  fierce  tone;  "I'll  be 
dished  if  I  don't  drop  yer  if  yer  talk  in  that  kind  of  style. 
I'm  goin'  to  use  just  such  words  as  I  please ;  so  don't  come 
yer  lingo  over  me." 

"But,  Jenny,"  I  said,  in  a  soothing  tone,  "  suppose  you 
were  rich,  and  occupied  a  good  station  in  society ;  wouldn't 
you  want  to  speak  as  correctly  as  the  young  girls  whom  you 
would  meet  ? " 

"  No,"  she  answered,  in  a  sullen  tone  ;  but  I  knew,  by  the 
manner  in  which  she  spoke,  that  my  words  were  having  some,, 
effect,  for  as  we  moved  along  she  looked  up,  and  in  a  low 
voice  remarked,  "  I  shan't  ever  be  fit  for  sich  kind  of 
company  as  yer  tells  about.  I  never  seed  sich  girls  except 
the  ones  what  would  go  by  me  in  their  carriages,  in  Mel- 
bourne, and  turn  up  their  noses  at  me,  'cos  I  was  a  bar-maid 
and  had  to  work." 

"  And  yet,  Jenny,  you  would  like  to  be  one  of  those  same 
ladies,  would  you  not?  " 

"  Of  course  it's  better  to  ride  in  a  carriage  than  to  be  handin' 
out  goes  of  gin,  and  mixin'  spiders,  and  drawin'  'alf-and-'alf 
for  Mud-Laners,  what  thinks  themselves  pretty  grand  if  they 
gives  J  er  a  sixpence  of  an  evenin'.    Bah !  I'm  tired  of  all  sich." 


A  MOMENTOUS  QUESTION.  399 

•*  And  would  you  leave  such  a  life  with  pleasure,  dear 
Jenny?"  I  asked,  in  a  low,  pleading,  affectionate  tone. 

"  Look  a-here,"  cried  the  fierce  little  jade,  with  a  sudden 
stop,  and  a  stamp  of  her  pretty  little  foot,  "  if  you  r;omes 
that  kind  of  palavar  round  me,  I'll  jist  rap  that  cocoanut 
of  yern  till  it  aches  —  there  now." 

*'  "Well,  what  have  I  said  ?  "  I  asked,  in  a  helpless  tone^ 
amazed  at  her  sudden  temper. 

"  I'd  think  yer'd  ask,"  with  a  curl  of  her  thin  red  lips  and 
a  toss  of  her  head,  while  I  could  see  a  frown  on  a  brow  that 
was  handsome  enough  for  a  coronet. 

"  I  don't  understand." 

"  Well,  I  does,  and  if  I  ain't  a  girl  of  much  edication,  I 
can  take  hints  without  any  kicks  —  so  there  now." 

"  She  grows  worse  and  worse,"  I  thought ;  but  I  didn't  say 
it.     "  Dear  Jenny,"  I  remarked,  in  a  soothing  tone. 

"  0,  bother,  don't  talk  that  way  to  a  cove.  Say  what 
yer've  got  to,  and  done  with  it." 

*'  I  have  nothing  to  say.  What  did  you  suppose  I  wanted 
to  tell  you  ?  " 

The  girl  did  not  look  quite  so  indignant  as  she  did  a  mo- 
ment before. 

**  Well,  I  thought  that  it  was  sass  yer  was  givin'  me.  Two 
or  three  times  yer've  hinted  that  I  needn't  be  a  bar-maid. 
Well,  if  I  warn't  such,  yer  mean  that  yer  could  take  care  of 
me  ;  but  yer  don't  intend  that  I  should  be  yer  wife  —  there 
now,  yer  mean  thing." 

My  heart  gave  a  great  leap,  and  I  felt  my  head  grow  dizzy. 
I  think  that  I  staggered  a  little,  for  I  was  faint ;  but  when  I 
recovered  I  found  Jenny's  arms  around  me,  and  my  head 
was  resting  on  her  shoulder,  as  cosily  as  though  we  had  been 
life-long  lovers. 

"  Do  yer  feel  better?"  she  asked,  in  a  low  tone,  and  with 
all  of  a  woman's  tenderness. 

"  Your  cruel  suspicions,"  I  managed  to  say,  "  made  me 
faint ;  you  must  know  by  this  time,  that  I  mean  honestly  by 
you." 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  jer  do,"  —  and  I  felt  a  little  closer  contaci 


400  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

from  her  arms,  —  "  but  does  yer  mean  the  marrying  kind  of 
honesty.     That's  what  I  want  to  know." 

Here  was  a  blunt  question,  and  ope  that  I  should  have  to 
answer,  although  Heaven  knows  I  was  not  prepared  to  ;  and 
for  the  space  of  about  ten  seconds,  all  the  time  that  I  knew 
the  young  girl,  with  her  suspicious  nature,  would  give  me,  I 
reflected. 

"  I  love  you  Jenny,"  I  said  in  a  low  whisper. 

Her  round,  white  arms  pressed  closer  and  closer  to  my 
neck,  and  her  head  was  turned  so  that  I  could  feel  her  breath 
upon  my  cheek,  as  though  she  was  waiting  for  my  decision. 

"  Yes,  but  how  much  does  yer  love  me  ?  That's  just  what 
I  wants  to  know." 

I  stole  a  look  at  her  face,  and  saw  that  it  was  resolute,  de- 
termined. She  had  broken  through  all  maidenly  rules  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  an  answer  to  her  question.  With 
her  ideas  of  right  and  wrong  she  meant  to  find  out  if  I  loved 
her,  and  wanted  her  as  a  mistress  or  wife.  And  I  was  so 
pinned  down  by  the  little  beauty  that  I  must  say  yes  or  no, 
and  lose  all  of  her  esteem  and  respect,  if  I  answered  in  the 
negative. 

The  position  was  a  most  unpleasant  one.  If  I  said  that  I 
was  willing  to  trust  her  with  my  name  and  some  of  my  cares, 
her  proper  father.  Sir  William,  would  imagine  that  I  had 
been  false  to  him  and  the  trust  which  he  imposed  upon  me ; 
that  I  had  extorted  consent  from  Jenny  just  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  an  alliance  with  his  house  ;  and  if  I  made  love  to 
the  girl  and  obtained  her  consent,  previous  to  informing  her 
that  she  was  born  to  a  different  position  from  that  which  she 
now  occupied,  wouldn't  she  think  that  I  had  deceived  her  a 
little,  and  that  my  affection  was  increased  by  the  thought 
that  her  father  was  rich  and  occupied  a  high  position  in  so- 
ciety ?  All  these  ideas  passed  through  my  brain  while  the 
young  girl  was  waiting  for  my  answer.  I  had  more  serious 
thoughts  than  ever  before  in  such  a  short  space  of  time ;  and 
in  fact  I  was  only  prevented  from  continuing  them,  by  hei 
saying,  — 

**  Yer  don't  talk  much  like  a  cove  what  cares  for  a  lass." 


A  MOMENTOUS  QUESTION.  401 

*'  But  I  do  care  for  you,  Jenny." 

"  Well,  then,  why  don't  yer  say  so,  and  have  done  "vith  it  ? '' 

"  Because  I  don't  want  to  take  advantage  of  your  posi- 
tion." 

'*  Humph,"  she  replied,  rather  sharply,  "  I'd  give  yer  a 
whaclc  in  the  face  if  yer  offered  to  take  any  advantage  of  mo 
out  here  —  so  now." 

She  jerked  her  arms  from  around  me,  and  so  sudden  was 
her  violence,  that  I  staggered  and  fell  to  the  ground ;  and  it 
was  rather  :;  fortunate  tumble  after  aU,  for  the  girl  repented 
of  her  expression  of  anger,  fell  on  her  knees  beside  me, 
raised  my  head,  from  which  the  blood  re-commenced  flowing, 
said  that  she  was  sorry,  and  hoped  that  I  would  forgive  her; 
and  then  it  suddenly  occurred  to  me  that  I  could  postpone 
her  momentous  question,  for  a  time  at  least,  on  the  ground 
that  my  injuries  were  too  severe  to  answer  all  that  she  wanted 
to  know. 

"  Yer  mustn't  stay  here,"  she  said,  after  a  while ;  "  do 
forgive  me ;  get  up  and  take  to  the  bush,  where  yer  can 
stow  away  till  yer  is  strong  enough  to  tramp  for  it.  Come, 
I'll  help  yer,  and  bring  yer  water  and  grub.  0,  I'm  so 
sorry  that  I  pushed  yer  down !  But  yer  hadn't  ought  to 
have  made  me  mad." 

"  I  shall  see  you  to-morrow,"  I  said,  as  I  commenced 
preparing  a  place  where  I  could  lie  down,  sheltered  from 
the  sun. 

"Yes,  if  I  can  get  away  from  the  hut  without  the  gov- 
ernor's seeing  me.     I  must  be  shady,  yer  know." 

It  was  an  awful  night,  the  one  that  I  passed.  Before 
morning  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  start  on  the  journey  to 
Bendigo,  trusting  to  luck  to  make  my  escape.  Faint  and 
dizzy  as  I  was,  I  could  not  be  very  sure  of  my  course,  or 
walk  long  without  resting  ;  and  as  daylight  began  to  appear, 
I  sunk  down  on  some  bushes,  no  longer  able  to  stand.  How 
long  I  remained  in  a  semi-unconscious  state  I  cannot  tell ; 
\)ut  I  was  awakened  by  hearing  the  tramp  of  many  feet,  and 
on  raising  my  head  and  looking  up  I  saw —  0,  what  a  thrill 
went  through  my  heart  as  I  saw  the  blue-coated  policemen 


102  THE  BUSHRAI^GERS. 

of  Melbourne,  headed  by  my  old  friend,  Commissioner  Mur- 
den,  Tvliom  I  Lad  parted  with  a  day  or  two  before  in  an 
abrupt  manner,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mad  Dic> 
and  the  Manchester  Pet ! 

"  Hullo,  old  fellow,  is  it  you  ? "  I  asked,  almost  fearful 
that  he  would  vanish  from  my  sight. 

The  commissioner  sprang  forward,  astonished  as  a  man 
could  be. 

*'  My  God  !  "  he  cried,  "  who  is  this  ?  " 

"  1  should  think  you  would  ask,  for  upon  my  word  I  hardly 
know  who  I  am." 

"  Bring  hither  a  glim  !  "  roared  the  commissioner,  for  it 
was  hardly  light. 

Murden  snatched  the  torch  from  the  man's  hand,  and  held 
it  to  my  face,  looking  at  me  most  attentively,  from  head  to 
foot.     At  last  he  seemed  satisfied,  for  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  It  is  he  —it's  no  ghost,  as  I  thought !  " 

He  threw  down  the  torch,  flung  his  arms  around  my  neck, 
and  almost  sobbed,  so  great  was  his  joy  at  meeting  me. 

"  If  I  didn't  think  you  dead,  may  I  be  d — d,"  blubbered 
.he  commissioner.  "  I  don't  know  but  you  are  now,  but  at 
any  rate  I'll  hold  on  to  you." 

"  That's  just  what  I  want  you  to  do,"  I  answered  in  a 
laughing  tone,  although  I  met  the  officer's  embrace  with  one 
equally  warm.  "  Be  sure  that  you  hold  on  to  me.  In  fact, 
chain  me  as  a  prisoner,  if  you  think  it  is  best.  Only  ion't  let 
me  be  spirited  off  again." 

"I'd  like  to  see  any  one  attempt  it,"  was  the  reply,  in  the 
regular  John  Bull  style  of  contempt  for  an  inferior.  "  TU 
)low  'em  to  pieces  if  they  offer  to  lay  a  hand  on  you." 

"  I've  been  on  the  plains  and  on  the  hills,  night  and  day, 
since  we  missed  you,"  the  commissioner  said.  "  Tell  me 
where  you  have  been,  and  what  has  happened  to  you," 

I  commenced,  and,  in  as  brief  a  time  as  possible,  related 
all  that  had  transpired;  how  Mad  Dick  and  the  Pet  had 
ulamaged  my  head,  and  my  escape  by  the  help  of  Jenny,  and 
then  informed  the  commissioner  that  a  dish  of  coffee  would 
not  be  amiss  at  that  early  hour  in  the  morning.      Now  that 


^  THE  HAUNTED  ST  (LTION.  403 

Morden  had  rescued  me,  I  wondered  if  we  could  do  nothmg 
to  save  the  girl,  and  capture  Mad  Dick  and  the  Man- 
chester Pet.  They  might  be  at  the  cattle  station,  even 
at  the  present  time ;  and  if  such  was  the  case,  could  we 
not  pounce  upon  them,  take  them  by  surprise,  and  thus 
restore  Jenny  to  the  arms  of  her  father.  Sir  William  Bye- 
field?  I  suggested  the  job  to  the  commissioner,  while  w© 
were  drinking  our  coffee. 

"  And  can  it  be  done  ? "  he  asked. 

"  I  think  that  it  can." 

"  How  far  is  it  to  the  station  ?  "  asked  Murden. 

"Hang  me  if  I  know.  We  may  be  near  it,  or  miles 
from  it.     Perhaps  Maurice  knows." 

The  lieutenant  was  called  and  interrogated.  He  knew 
where  the  "Haunted  Station"  was  located.  He  thought 
that  the  distance  was  about  five  miles,  in  a  south-west 
direction.  I  had  wandered  and  crawled  so  far  during  the 
night,  in  spite  of  my  weakness. 

"  But  our  horses,"  said  Murden ;  "  they  are  about  used 
np  ;  for  recollect,  I  have  been  wandering  all  over  the  country 
in  search  of  you,  and  therefore  have  had  no  rest." 

"  I  know  a  place  where  there  is  water  and  grass,  out  a 
short  distance  from  here,"  remarked  Maurice. 

"  Then  you  had  better  lead  us  to  it.  We  will  remain 
there  all  day  and  recruit,  and  start  in  the  evening." 

'*  Agreed." 


CHAPTER  LXn. 

THE    HAUNTED    STATION. NO    ONE   AT   HOME. PEBSB- 

VEBANCE    OF   A   BLUE    MAN. IN    SIGHT. 

We  found  the  place  where  grass  and  water  were  to 
be  obtained ;  so,  removing  the  saddles  from  our  animals,  we 
secured  the  horses  in  such  a  manner  that  they  could  not 
<5ssape,  while  at  the  same  time  they  would  have  plenty  of 

27 


404  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

feed  during  the  day.  Then  we  spread  our  blankets  beneath 
the  branches  of  some  trees,  and  went  to  sleep  just  as  the 
sun  commenced  darting  its  rays  through  the  eastern  horizon. 
I  did  not  awaken  until  afternoon,  and  then,  when  I  arose, 
more  tired  acd  stupid  than  when  I  lay  down,  I  found  the 
men  hard  at  work  over  their  horses,  bathing  their  legs,  rub- 
bing them  down,  and  otherwise  preparing  for  the  journej 
which  we  were  to  undertake  as  soon  as  the  sun  lost  some  of 
its  heat,  and  travel  would  be  safe. 

"  By  the  way,"  I  asked  of  the  commissioner,  "  what 
became  of  Sir  "William  and  ^h.  Brown  ? " 

"  0,  we  all  went  to  Bendigo,  where  we  found  fresh  horses, 
and  started  out  immediately  to  hunt  you  up,  while  Sir 
William  and  Mr.  Brown,  with  the  Bendigo  fellows,  explored 
a  different  tract  of  country,  because  we  hoped  that  if  you 
were  dead  we  could  find  your  body." 

"  And  yet  you  did  not  go  near  the  Haunted  Station  ?  " 

*'  No,  for  I  have  always  given  it  a  wide  berth.  My  men 
don't  like  it,  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  don't." 

"I  thought  that  the  redoubtable  commissioner  of  Mel- 
bourne was  afraid  of  nothing." 

*'  Alive.  I  said  nothing  about  the  dead.  I  have  a  horror 
of  being  with  the  dead,  or  of  passing  a  night  all  alone  in  a 
house  where  a  deed  of  violence  has  been  committed." 

I  did  not  pursue  the  conversation  any  further  ;  but  I  mar- 
velled that  a  man  of  the  commissioner's  nerves  should  allow 
such  matters  to  have  any  influence  on  his  mind.  It  was 
the  first  time  that  he  had  made  such  an  acknowledgment. 

At  sundown  the  horses  were  saddled,  and  we  were  readj 
to  start.  The  night  was  starlight,  although  so  dark  that  we 
coidd  not  discern  an  object  as  large  as  a  man  three  or  foui 
rods  from  us  ;  so,  when  we  were  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
the  station,  Maurice-  checked  his  horse,  and  told  us  where 
we  were.  The  signal  to  dismount  was  given,  and  obeyed. 
The  horses  were  left  in  charge  of  two  men,  carefully  con- 
cealed in  the  bushes,  while  the  rest  of  us  stole  forward  so 
that  we  could  surround  the  hut,  and  if  any  one  w#e  in  it 
effect  a  capture. 


THE  HAIINTED  STATION.  405 

It  was  a  lonely  place,  miles  from  any  habitation,  a  long 
distance  from  road  or  trail ;  and  the  very  ground  over  -;vhich 
we  passed  had  been  the  scene  of  bloodshed  and  violence. 
No  wonder  I  noticed  more  than  one  of  the  officers  glancing 
over  his  shoulder,  as  though  fearful  of  finding  some  horrible 
spectre  close  to  his  elbow ;  and  yet  all  the  men  in  the  com- 
mand were  of  tried  and  approved  courage,  and  would  not 
have  trembled  at  facing  any  odds.  At  length  Maurice  sud- 
denly stopped  and  whispered,  — 

"  There's  the  hut ;  but  you  see  no  light  in  it.  Every  glim 
is  doused,  and  there's  no  one  there  but  goblins  and  demons." 

"  We  will  surround  the  hut,"  whispered  Murden,  while  we 
had  halted  for  a  moment  to  consider  the  best  course  to  pur- 
sue. "If  the  brutes  are  in  it,  we  will  nab  them;  if  they 
ain't,  we  will  see  how  long  they  have  been  gone,  and  whether 
they  are  likely  to  return.  Tf  they  come  back,  we  can  take 
them." 

"  Grood.  Dispose  of  your  men  to  the  best  advantage  ;  out 
mind  and  let  me  cover  the  entrance  to  the  hut." 

*'  All  right.     It's  just  where  I  should  have  placed  you." 

The  commissioner  gave  a  few  whispered  directions,  and 
the  men,  in  obedience  to  them,  separated,  going  to  the  right 
and  left,  stealing  through  the  bushes  with  noiseless  tread, 
until  they  had  assumed  the  stations  which  Murden  ordered 
tnem  to  take.  Then  we  approached  +he  hut,  crawling  on  our 
hands  and  knees,  so  that  we  should  not  offer  a  mark  for  an 
enemy,  in  case  one  was  concealed  behind  the  walls  of  the  sta^ 
tion.  We  were  determined  to  be  cautious  in  our  movements, 
because  we  knew  how  much  there  was  at  stake,  and  how 
necessary  it  was  that  we  should  effect  the  capture  of  two 
such  desperate  men,  while  at  the  same  time  I  did  not  want 
a  hair  of  Jenny's  head  injured,  even  by  a  chance  shot. 

We  reached  the  door  after  some  effort,  and  placed  our 
ears  to  the  cracks,  to  detect  the  least  sound  that  transpired 
within.  All  was  quiet.  No  light  was  visible :  not  even  a 
breath  was  heard.  With  a  long-drawn  sigh,  I  was  forced  to 
the  conclusion  that  Dick  and  Sykes  were  not  there.  Mur- 
den, after  he  was  satisfied  that  no  one  was  at  home,  arose 


406  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

from  his  knees  and  tried  the  door,  determined  to  make  an 
examination  of  the  interior  of  the  hut  without  a  moment's 
delay.  He  placed  his  hand  upon  the  rude  latch,  and  gave 
the  rickety  door  a  push.  It  yielded,  creaked  on  its  hinges 
in  a  doleful  manner,  as  though  uttering  protests  at  being 
disturbed,  and  then  we  entered  the  place.  I  lighted  a  match, 
and  took  a  hasty  survey  of  the  interior  of  the  building.  On 
the  table  was  a  half-consumed  candle  in  the  neck  of  a  bottle, 
some  bones,  bread,  a  bit  of  cheese,  and  an  empty  bottle  that 
had  at  one  time  contained  liquor.  I  lighted  the  candle,  and 
then  examined  the  room  where  I  had  been  confined  as  a  pris- 
oner. In  one  corner  was  a  pile  of  straw,  clean,  and  thrown 
up  with  some  degree  of  order.  I  overhauled  it,  and  found 
sundry  articles  of  dress  that  had  been  worn  by  Miss  Jenny. 
I  was  folding  them  up  with  religious  care  when  that  rude 
Murden  snatched  them  from  my  hands,  and  looked  them 
over,  or  commenced  doing  so ;  but  I  could  not  permit  such 
sacrilege,  and  took  them  from  him  by  force,  and  replaced 
the  delicate  articles  of  linen  where  I  had  found  them-. 

"  Hang  it,  man,  no  harm  in  what  I  was  doing,"  the  com- 
missioner muttered,  as  though  he  was  more  than  half  inclined 
to  laugh. 

"Perhaps  not;  but  it  seems  so  to  me." 

"  Pshaw !  What  a  ninny  you  are  !  But  hang  the  soiled 
linen.  Let  us  estimate  how  long  the  rogues  have  been  gone. 
Can  you  give  a  guess  ?  " 

I  looked  at  the  bones,  and  saw  that  they  were  compara- 
tively freshly  picked.  There  was  no  mould  on  then,  as  on 
the  cheese  ;  so  I  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  game  we 
were  in  search  of  had  not  been  gone  more  than  six  or  eight 
hours.  But  would  the  parties  return  ?  That  was  a  question 
that  we  could  not  reply  to  ;  so,  after  a  few  words  of  consul- 
tation, we  concluded  to  extinguish  the  light,  retire  to  the 
bushes,  fight  the  mosquitos,  and  wait  a  day  or  two,  and  see 
what  would  happen. 

'  Carefully  replacing  ever3rthing  that  had  been  moved,  we  re- 
treated from  the  hut,  closed  the  door,  and  once  more  gave  in- 
Btructions  to  the  men.    The^^  were  to  lie  in  ambush  until  called 


NO  ONE  AT  HOME.  407 

out,  and  on  no  account  were  to  show  themselves,  make  a 
noise,  or  talk  louder  than  a  whisper.  Murden  and  I  re- 
tired to  a  clump  of  bushes,  where  we  stretched  ourselves, 
and  conversed  in  a  low  tone.  Then  he  entered  into  the 
most  complete  details  of  the  manner  ia  which'  he  and  Mr 
Brown  had  searched  for  me,  after  I  had  disappeared  through 
the  agency  of  Mad  Dick  and  the  Manchester  Pet. 

*'  Sir  "William  was  wild  ahout  you,"  the  commissioner  con- 
tinued. "  He  couldn't  have  been  more  concerned  if  you  had 
been  his  own  son.  He  almost  shed  tears  when  we  gave  up 
all  search  for  you."    , 

I  was  gratified  to  hear  this,  for  reasons  which  the  reader 
can  readily  understand.  I  loved  his  fair,  but  rather  coarse- 
talking  daughter,  and  I  hoped  she  had  some  affection  for 
me ;  but  I  was  not  certain  on  that  point.  I  could  only  sur- 
mise that  she  had  some  idea  of  loving  me,  provided  her  mind 
was  not  warped  by  prejudice.  And  then  we  talked  of  poor 
Amelia,  the  sister  of  Smith's  wife.  I  repeated  the  account 
of  her  abduction  by  Moloch,  her  sufferings,  strength  of  mind, 
amiability ;  and  then  I  touched  on  her  beauty  and  sweetness, 
and  so  well  did  I  discourse  that  the  commissioner,  to  my 
surprise,  did  not  interrupt  me.  He  seemed  to  listen,  as 
though  he  was  really  pleased  to  see  me  so  cheerful.  How 
little  did  I  know  what  was  passing  in  his  mind !  and  how 
little  did  he  surmise  the  thoughts  that  agitated  my  heart ! 
But  at  last  I  fell  asleep,  even  while  I  was  making  a  compari- 
son between  Jenny  and  Amelia.  Both  were  very  lovely ; 
but  I  had  my  ideas  as  to  which  I  thought  the  more  entrancing. 
Murden  had  the  same  ;  but  he  did  not  venture  to  give  utter- 
ance to  them. 

I  must  have  slept  two  or  three  hours,  when  I  was  awakened 
bj  the  cold.  I  was  all  of  a  shiver,  for  I  had  lain  down  with- 
out a  blanket  to  cover  me.  I  got  up  without  disturbing 
Murden,  and  went  in  search  of  some  of  the  men,  who,  I 
knew,  had  two  or  three  blankets  each.  I  found  them  on  the 
alert,  acd  ready  to  accommodate  me.  I  took  my  choice  of 
Buch  as  1  wanted,  and  returned  to  my  post ;  but  I  was  hardly 
settled,  when  the  commissioner  was  awakened  by  the  samn 


408  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

cause  that  had  started  me.  He  looked  at  the  blankets  ooai 
encompassed  me,  shivered  with  envy  and  cold,  and  then 
muttered  something  about  its  being  a  rich  thing  for  one  man 
to  be  warm  while  another  was  freezing,  made  an  attempt  U 
deprive  me  of  one  of  my  treasures,  failed  most  signally, 
although  I  pretended  I  was  asleep,  and  then  the  bafHed 
policeman  went  off  to  his  men,  and  had  recourse  to  tho 
appeal  that  I  had  used.  He  was  successful,  of  course,  and, 
with  renewed  caution  to  be  vigilant,  came  back,  and  went  to 
sleep  ;  but,  just  as  he  was  dropping  off,  I  heard,  or  thought 
I  heard,  the  name  of  Amelia  upon  his  lips. 

The  night  passed.  Morning  dawned,  and  then  up  came 
the  sun,  with  all  its  Australian  brilliancy  and  power.  But 
there  was  not  a  sign  of  Mad  Dick  and  the  Pet ;  and,  worse 
than  all,  I  had  not  seen  Jenny,  except  in  my  troubled  dream. 
I  was  inclined  to  think  the  parties  had  escaped  us.  I,  there- 
fore, was  in  despair ;  but  the  commissioner,  with  a  tenacity 
that  was  like  John  Bull,  swore  that  he  would  remain  in  his 
position  a  \veek,  but  he  would  catch  the  rascals. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  Til  have  those  coves  if  they  come  back. 
I  want  to  place  Miss  Jenny  in  your  arms,  and  then  in  her 
father's,  and  by  that  time  I  shall  be  satisfied.  You  know 
you  are  dying  to  see  her ;  so  what  is  the  use  of  denying  it  ? " 

"  And  for  the  help  which  you  extend  to  me,  of  course 
payment  is  required." 

"  Perhaps  ;  "  and  then  the  policeman  turned  away  ;  but  I 
thought  I  detected  a  blush  on  his  weather-beaten  cheek. 

To  prevent  discovery,  we  moved  back  into  the  woods, 
where  we  could  secrete  our  horses,  make  fires,  and  be  as  com- 
fortsble  as  the  insects  would  permit  us.  We  left  one  of  the 
men  in  the  brush  to  make  observations,  and  report  to  us,  by 
a  peculiar  signal,  if  Dick  or  Sykes  should  appear.  With 
this  understanding,  we  cooked  our  breakfast  and  smoked 
our  pipes,  lounged  under  the  trees,  killed  half  a  dozen 
ifnakes,  and  chased  as  many  more,  slept,  told  stories,  and 
Buffered  the  day  to  pass  as  best  we  could  ;  and  yet  there  was 
no  sign  of  the  parties  we  wanted.  I  grew  more  and  more 
confident  that  the    scoundrels  had  changed  their  quarters. 


AN  IMPORTANT  CAPTURE.  40S 

and  Murden  was  equally  sure  that  they  would  turn  up  in 
the  course  of  the  day  ;  and  faith,  to  my  great  joy,  he  was 
right,  for  just  about  an  hour  before  sunset  one  of  the  men 
signalized  that  something  was  in  sight. 

"Will  you  go  and  see  what  is  the  matter?"  Murden 
asked ;  "  and,  if  there  is  need  of  an  advance,  let  me  know  it." 

I  complied.  I  worked  my  way  through  the  brush  until  I 
reached  the  spot  where  the  guard  was  located.  He  select- 
ed the  place  so  that  he  could  command  a  good  view  of  the 
front  of  the  station,  no  one  being  able  to  enter  it  and  escape 
observation. 

"What  is  it ? "  I  asked,  as  I  crawled  to  his  side. 

"  See  for  yourself,"  he  answered,  and  pointed  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  trail  that  led  towards  Bendigo. 

I  followed  his  motion,  and  saw  a  one-horse  vehicle  slowly 
approaching,  avoiding  the  bushes,  yet  heading  for  the  hut. 
If  Jenny  was  in  the  wagon,  I  was  satisfied  ;  and  so  I  sat  and 
watched  the  horse  as  he  crawled  towards  the  station  ;  and  at 
last  I  was  convinced  that  Dick,  Sykes,  and  Jenny  were  near 
me,  and  that  the  animal  that  drew  them  had  been  driven  in 
a  most  unmerciful  manner. 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

AN    IMPORTANT    CAPTURE.  THE     PET's     REGRETS.  JENH"! 

AND    MAD    DICK. 

I  wvTCHED  the  party  leave  the  vehicle  with  jealous  eyes. 
First  Mad  Dick  jumped  out ;  then  Sykes  followed  him  in  a 
lumbering,  heavy  way,  as  though  he  was  too  ponderous  to 
move  rapidly.  Mad  Dick  offered  his  hand  to  Miss  Jenny, 
to  assist  her  in  leaving  the  carriage ;  but  the  proud  girl  de- 
clined his  aid,  and  I  thought  that  I  could  see  her  expression 
of  scorn  as  she  pushed  his  arm  aside,  and  leaped  to  the 
ground.     We  were  not  separated  by  any  great  distanee,  so 


410  THE  BUSHRAN  JERS. 

ihat  I  could  note  her  handsome  face,  and  almost  thought 
that  I  could  see  tae  color  of  her  calm  blue  eyes.  Miss  Jennj 
gave  her  dress  a  shake,  spoke  a  word  to  her  father,  and  then 
entered  the  hut ;  while  Mad  Dick,  after  a  coarse  laugh,  as 
though  he  was  pleased  with  her  airs  and  scorn,  turned  en 
the  poor  horse,  that  was  making  desperate  efforts  to  nibble  a 
few  spears  of  grass,  gave  him  a  kick  that  sounded  as  though 
an  empty  flour  barrel  had  been  thrown  from  a  window,  and 
then  swore  for  five  minutes  like  a  pirate  of  the  olden  time. 
Sykes  made  no  attempt  to  restrain  his  rough  companion. 
The  former  entered  the  hut,  but  soon  returned  with  a  bottle  ; 
and  it  must  have  contained  liquor,  for  I  noticed  that  the 
prize-fighter  poured  out  some  of  the  stuff,  and  handed  it  to 
Dick.  He  took  part  of  it,  put  it  to  his  mouth,  threw  back 
his  head,  and  then  returned  the  cup  to  Sykes ;  so  that  I 
imagined  that  it  was  empty  when  it  reached  the  burly  ruffian's 
hand.  At  any  rate,  the  drink  appeared  to  soften  the  heart  of 
the  bushranger ;  for  he  ceased  swearing,  and  even  was  so 
much  mollified  that  he  commenced  releasing  the  poor  tired 
horse  from  the  wagon.  Then  he  removed  the  harness,  and 
allowed  the  brute  to  stray  over  the  prairie,  find  water  and 
"*  grass  where  it  pleased. 

"  Gro  back  to  the  commissioner,"  I  said  to  the  guard, 
"  and  tell  him  that  the  game  has  arrived,  and  that  we  await 
his  pleasure  as  to  an  attack." 

In  a  minute  Murden  crawled  to  my  side,  and  was  radiant 
with  happiness  at  the  prospect  before  him. 

'IT  thought  they  would  turnup  again,"  said  he.  "Yon 
kiiow  that  I  told  you  so." 

Of  course  I  congratulated  him  on  his  forethought,  for  1 
ras  tco  well  pleased  to  utter  one  word  of  disparagement. 
Jenny  was  near  me,  and  I  was  satisfied. 

'•Now  the  question  is,"  remarked  the  commissioner, 
"whether  we  shall  pounce  on  them  at  once,  or  wait  tiU 
they  are  asleep.  If  we  make  a  rush,  some  of  us  will  get 
hurt.     If  we  wait,  we  may  secure  them  withouT  a  fight." 

"  True;  but  can't  we  play  a  Yankee  trick  on  them,  and 
thus  accomplish  our  purpose  ?  " 


AN  IMPORTANT  CAPTURE.  411 

"  HoAv  r " 

"  I  will  tell  you.  "\Ye  must  induce  the  fellows  to  separate. 
We  'don't  want  to  kill  them  if  we  can  help  it.  Let  the  hang- 
man do  his  work  on  them." 

"  I'm  willing.     State  your  plan." 

"It  is  this.  Let  Jackson  imitate  the  bleatings  of  a  calf. 
I  think  that  will  call  one  of  the  scdundrels  to  the  woods. 
They  would  like  a  change  from  mutton  to  veal,  and  if  they 
hear  the  bleating,  will  think  that  a  good  opportunity  Las 
occurred  for  substituting  one  for  the  other." 

"  We  could  then  ambush  the  fellow,"  muttered  the  com- 
missioner. 

"  Yes,  and  serve  him  the  same  way  that  he  served  me." 

*' By  the  piper,  but  there  would  be  some  fun  in  that!" 
returned  the  commissioner,  rubbing  his  hands  with  signs  of 
glee. 

"  Of  course  there  would.  Don't  you  think  that  I  wan* 
my  revenge  ?  " 

"  And  you  shall  have  it.  Here,  Jackson,  let  me  hear  you 
cry  as  naturally  as  though  you  were  born  a  calf.  If  the  ras- 
cals take  the  bait,  lead  them  to  the  thickest  of  the  bushes, 
and  then  we'll  take  care  of  them.  I  hope  that  but  one  at  a 
time  will  come." 

Jackson  chuckled  as  though  he  had  received  a  compliment ; 
but  after  he  had  become  more  composed,  he  commenced 
bleating  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  my  unqualified  appro* 
bation.  The  cries  were  similar  to  those  uttered  by  a  youn| 
calf,  whose  mother  had  deserted  and  left  it  without  making 
proper  provision  for  nourishment.  After  Jackson  had  ut. 
tered  three  or  four  mournful  bleats,  the  two  desperadoes  came 
to  the  door,  and  looked  in  the  direction  from  whence  the 
sounds  proceeded.  They  appeared  to  exchange  words  on  the 
subject,  for  we  saw  Dick  point  to  the  bushes,  where  we  wert^ 
going,  and  then  they  listened,  to  be  sure  that  they  were 
not  mistaken. 

"  Keep  it  up,  Jackson,"  whispered  the  commissioner. 
"They  aj'e  biting  in  a  beautiful  manner.  You'll  draw  'an 
just  like  a  blister,  or  I'm  much  mistaken." 


412  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

Jaqkjion,  still  crawling  among  the  bnshes,  uttered  a  few 
more  plaintive  cries.  The  listening  desperadoes  seemed 
satisfied  that  a  strange  calf  was  in  the  brush,  and  that  it 
would  pay  to  capture  the  same.  The  question  between  them 
seemed  to  be,  who  should  go  in  search  of  the  animal.  At 
last  it  was  decided  in  favor  of  Sykes,  who  was  probably  more 
tired  of  mutton  than  Mad  Dick.  The  giant  took  a  piece  of 
harness  from  the  wagon,  and  strode  in  the  direction  of  the 
bushes ;  and  as  he  advanced,  Jackson  receded,  while  the 
men  glided  through  the  bushes,  in  obedience  to  signals,  so 
as  to  be  all  ready  for  the  assault,  when  it  should  be  ordered. 
Sykes  undoubtedly  thought  that  it  would  take  him  but  a  few 
minutes  to  return  with  the  prize  which  he  was  in  search  of; 
but  he  entered  the  first  line  of  bushes,  and  then  the  second, 
but  still  the  bleating  calf  was  the  same  distance  from  him. 
I  was  near  enough  to  the  prize-fighter  to  see  his  face  ;  and  I 
noted  its  expression.  He  hesitated  for  a  moment  when  he 
was  in  the  second  line  of  bushes,  and  looked  back,  as  though 
he  was  not  satisfied  to  leave  the  hut.  Mad  Dick,  and  Misa 
Jenny  without  his  commanding  presence.  But  another  and 
more  plaintive  bleat  of  the  imaginary  calf  decided  the  ruf- 
fian. He  thought  that  a  few  more  steps  would  not  take  him 
far  from  the  station,  and  that  he  would  certainly  bo  rewarded 
for  his  trouble  by  having  veal  cutlets  for  his  supper.  In 
ten  minutes'  time,  we  were  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  sta- 
tion, and  still  Jackson  kept  up  the  delusion,  while  the  ex- 
prize-fighter  was  no  nearer  the  sound  that  lured  him  on, 
than  he  was  when  he  started.  This  seemed  to  enter  his 
thick  skull  after  a  while,  for  he  stopped,  uttered  half  a  dozen 
imprecations,  and  turned  to  retrace  his  steps.  Then  Mur- 
den  gave  the  signal  to  close  in  upon  the  man,  and  secure 
him  at  all  events,  but  not  to  use  firearms,  except  all  other 
resources  failed.  Sykes  had  not  taken  more  than  a  dozen 
steps,  when  two  stout,  active  fellows  sprang  upon  him ;  while 
at  the  same  moment,  two  more  started  up  from  some  bushes 
that  were  directly  in  his  path. 

The  Pet  was  taken  by  surprise ;  but  not  so  much  so  as 
to  lose  his  presence    of  mind.      He  started  back  a  little. 


AN  IMPORTANT  CAPTURE.  413 

then  raised  one  of  his  ponderous  fists,  and  planted  it  full 
in  the  face  of  the  police  officer  on  the  left,  while  at  the  same 
time,  he  shook  off  the  man  on  the  right,  and  rushed  forward 
to  encounter  the  two  sturdy  fellows  who  were  close  upon 
him.  At  one  of  them  he  aimed  a  blow ;  but  the  man  under- 
stood something  of  the  art  of  boxing,  and  knowing  that  he 
could  not  ward  off  the  huge  fist,  and  that  it  was  dangerous 
to  encounter  it,  dropped  to  the  ground,  with  wonderful 
alacrity,  and  thus  escaped  a  bio*?"  that  would  have  knocked 
him  out  of  time  and  shape.  The  force  with  which  +he  Pet 
struck  at  the  officer,  caused  him  to  swerve  a  little  from  the 
perpendicular,  and  before  he  could  recover  his  former  posi- 
tion of  defence,  the  second  officer  had  darted  forward,  and 
fastened  upon  the  giant,  throwing  both  arms  around  his 
neck,  and  hugging  as  close  as  possible,  so  as  to  avoid  a 
blow,  or  a  succession  of  them,  in  return.  For  a  moment 
the  two  men  struggled,  and  but  for  a  moment.  The  Pet  ex- 
erted his  huge  strength,  grasped  the  body  of  the  officer  in 
his  immense  hands,  strained  for  a  moment,  and  then  raised 
his  plucky  adversary  from  the  ground,  and  threw  him  at 
least  ten  feet,  so  that  he  landed  in  the  bushes  with  a  crash, 
as  though  every  bone  in  his  body  was  broken.  During  all 
this  struggle,  the  Pet  had  not  offered  to  use  his  revolver  or 
knife,  both  of  which  were  in  his  belt.  The  prize-fighter  was 
so  much  more  accustomed  to  natural  weapons  than  artificial 
ones,  that  he  had  not  thought  of  drawing  his  pistol  or  using 
his  knife ;  but  now,  when  ho  supposed  that  all  his  enemies 
were  vanquished,  that  he  could  make  a  rush  and  escape  to 
the  hut  where  he  could  secure  the  assistance  of  Mad  Dick  if 
necessary,  he  laid  his  hand  on  his  pistol,  and  would  have 
drawn  it,  if  Murden  had  not  thought  it  time  to  interfere. 
Suddenly  the  commissioner,  who  was  concealed  in  a  clump 
of  bushes  near  the  scene  of  the  struggle,  arose,  revolver  in 
hand,  and  said,  — 

"  It's  no  use,  Sykes.  If  you  offer  to  draw  a  pistol,  I'll 
shoot,  and  I  need  not  say  that  my  aim  is  certain.  You 
know  me.     Surrender,  and  save  trouble." 

I  saw  the  brutal  r^rize-fighter  glare  at  the  commissioner  as 


414  THE  BUSHRAUGERS. 

though  a  combat  with  fists  would  be  desirable  ;  but  the  fel- 
low was  evidently  afraid  of  firearms,  therefore  hesitated  foi 
a  moment,  undecided  what  to  do.  That  moment  of  hesita- 
tion was  enough  for  Murden.  Holding  his  revolver  in  one 
hand,  he  advanced  towards  the  Pet,  and  I  thought  that  the 
victory  was  won,  that  the  giant  would  yield ;  but  I  was  rather 
disappointed  in  my  expectations. 

*'  Come,  Sykcs,  no  nonsense.  Give  up  at  once,  or  yon 
will  miss  it.  You  know  me,  and  know  what  I  want.  I  have 
force  enough  to  take  you,  and  a  dozen  just  like  you.'* 

*'  Yes,  I  knows,  Mr.  Murden,'*  the  prize-fighter  said.  "  I 
throws  up  the  sponge.     I'm  knocked  out  of  time." 

He  dropped  his  arms,  in  token  of  submission,  and  Mur- 
den putting  trust  in  that  sign,  returned  the  revolver  to  his 
belt,  and  then  took  a  step  in  advance,  as  though  to  put  hand- 
cufi's  on  the  fellow's  wrists.  Just  at  that  moment,  I  left  my 
place  of  concealment  for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  com- 
missioner, and  as  I  did  so,  the  Pet,  with  an  angry  growl,  and 
an  oath  that  came  from  his  heart,  bounded  forward,  caught 
the  commissioner  in  his  arms,  and  sought  to  throw  him 
among  the  bushes.  But  the  commissioner  had  no  idea  of 
being  treated  in  such  a  manner.  He  was  small,  but  with 
muscle  like  steel  wire  ;  so  when  he  found  the  Pet  was  de- 
termined to  be  ferocious  and  treacherous,  he  just  clung  to 
him  with  so  tenacious  a  grasp  that  he  could  not  be  thrown 
oif,  or  even  moved,  as  expected.  Sykes  strained  for  a  mo- 
ment or  two,  shook  the  slight  form  that  he  held  in  his  grasp, 
but  was  unable  to  injure  the  commissioner,  as  he  anticipated ; 
and  before  he  could  proceed  to  extremities,  I  had  rushed  to- 
wards the  parties,  and  all  the  men  had  done  the  ss-zae, 
determined  to  save  the  officer,  even  if  we  had  to  use 
our  pistols,  although  orders  had  been  given  against  firirg  a 
shot.  As  I  neared  the  parties  who  were  struggling,  Sykes 
caught  sight  of  me ;  and  so  great  was  his  astonishment,  that 
he  dropped  the  commissioner  as  suddenly  as  though  he  was 
a  ball  of  hot  lead,  and  had  burned  his  fingers. 

"  You  here  ?"  he  roared,  and  uttered  an  oath  that  sounded 
intensely  wicked. 


THE  PET'S  REGRETS.  415 

•*  I'm  here,"  I  answered,  in  a  calm  tone. 

"  Curse  you ;  you  are  my  evil  genius.  I  mij^ht  have  known 
that  you  was  here.  D — n  you,  I'll  finish  you,  as  I  ought  to 
have  done  some  days  ago." 

He  put  his  hand  upon  his  revolver,  intending  to  add  mur- 
der to  his  other  crimes ;  but  one  of  the  men  who  was  in  the 
rear  saw  the  motion,  and  interfered  in  time  to  prevent  it ; 
for  as  the  Pet  touched  the  stock  of  his  pistol,  the  police 
officer  struck  the  giant  a  savage  blow  with  his  cutlass,  and 
down  he  fell,  with  a  gash  about  three  inches  long  in  his  skuU, 
nearly  penetrating  to  the  brain. 

"  Very  well  done,  Sam  !  "  cried  Murden,  in  a  cheery  tone, 
and  with  a  smile  of  approval.  "  The  blow  was  well  struck, 
and  just  in  the  right  time.  The  least  heoitation  at  such  a 
moment  would  have  cost  us  dear.  Raise  the  brute's  head, 
and  let  us  see  how  he  fares." 

They  turned  the  giant,  and  looked  at  the  wound,  and  then 
at  his  face.  His  eyes  were  closed,  and  he  breathed  faintly ; 
but  we  were  not  in  the  least  alarmed  for  his  safety.  In  fact, 
with  a  distinct  remembrance  of  the  savage  blow  that  he  had 
given  me,  and  which  had  caused  me  hours  of  pain,  and  nearly 
a  fractured  skull,  I  did  not  have  much  pity  for  the  wretch, 
and  was  half  inclined  to  feel  sorry  that  my  hand  had  not  in- 
flicted the  blow  ;  for  I  owed  him  no  good  will  after  the  treat- 
ment that  I  had  experienced  when  we  met. 

"  Put  on  the  bracelets,"  said  the  commissioner  ;  "  he  may 
be  playing  'possum.  Bind  up  his  head,  some  of  you.  So, 
that  will  do." 

The  Pet  opened  his  eyes  when  the  irons  were  secured  to 
his  wrists. 

"  Well,  old  fellow,  how  goes  it  ? "  Murden  asked.  "  Do 
you  feel  like  making  a  full  confession,  and  shaming  the 
devil  ? " 

*'  My  head  ! "  the  giant  murmured. 

"0,  hang  your  head.  We  have  got  other  things  to  attend 
to.  If  you  intend  to  grumble  in  this  manner,  I  shall  begin 
to  think  that  we  have  caught  the  calf  which  you  were  in  pur^ 
suit  of." 


416  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

**  You  allers  was  hard  on  me,  Mr.  Mui  den,"  whined  the 
Pet,  whose  spirit  seemed  a  little  dashed  by  the  treatment 
which  he  received. 

"  Because  you  never  stood  up  fair  and  square,  and  fought 
like  a  man.  You  always  struck  foiil  blows  when  it  was  just 
as  easy  to  have  given  them  above  the  belt.  You  furnished 
as  with  a  little  information,  but  you  took  good  care  that  it 
didn't  amount  to  much,  unless  you  had  a  grudge  against  some 
poor  devil.  The  fact  of  it  is,  Sykes,  I've  got  enough  facts 
to  swamp  you,  and  I  mean  to  do  it,  unless  you  open  your 
mouth  on  certain  subjects." 

The  Pet  shut  his  mouth  in  a  resolute  manner,  and  scowled 
at  me  as  though  I  was  the  author  of  all  his  misfortunes,  and 
then,  finding  that  it  did  him  no  good  to  make  faces  at  me, 
turned  to  the  commissioner. 

"  I  s'pose,"  he  said,  "  that  I  can  make  terms,  even  if  I 
don't  throw  up  the  sponge  ? " 

"  I  know  about  all  that,  you  know,"  the  commissioner  re- 
joined, in  an  indifferent  tone.  "  To  be  sure,  there  are  some 
things  respecting  Sir  William's  daughter  which  need  clearing 
up  ;  but  as  Mother  Brown  has  peached,  it  don't  matter  much 
whether  you  blab  or  hold  your  tongue." 

"  Curse  the  old  hag  !  "  growled  the  prize-fighter.  "  If 
she'd  been  put  out  of  the  way,  this  wouldn't  have  happened, 
and  Jenny  wouldn't  have  knowed  no  father  but  me." 

"  It's  in  consequence  of  your  own  brutality,  you  big  ras- 
cal," retorted  the  commissioner.  "  Had  you  protected  the 
woman  whom  you  ruined,  you  would  not  now  be  here  with  a 
broken  head,  and  a  chance  on  the  roads  that  will  require  all 
your  days  to  work  out.  Mother  Brown  has  only  acted  like 
all  human  beings  —  she  has  turned  on  the  one  that  spurned 
her,  and  means  to  have  revenge.     I  don't  blame  her." 

"  Had  we  not  better  postpone  this  discussion  until  some 
more  convenient  time  ? "  I  asked.  "  Already  the  shades 
of  night  are  falling,  and  we  are  some  distance  from 
the  hut." 

"  Right,"  answered  Murden.  "  We  must  have  Mad 
Dick  befor3  many  hours.     It  won't  do  to  leave  him  in  the 


MAD  DICK  MAKES  PROPOSALS.  417 

company  of  Miss  Jenny  for  any  length  of  time.     He    s  a 
dangerous  man." 

When  we  reached  the  clearing  in  which  the  station  waa 
located,  the  sun  was  down,  and  darkness  had  already  com- 
menced, so  that  a  person  moving  through  the  bushes  could 
not  be  seen  unless  you  were  close  upon  him.  I  saw  a  light 
in  the  hut,  and  suggested  to  Murden  that  we  should  crawl 
towards  it;  and  see  what  was  going  on,  leaving  the  men  to 
follow  at  their  leisure.  To  this  the  officer  assented ;  and  sa 
we  dropped  upon  our  hands,  and  knees,  and  werif  forward  as 
fast  as  possible  until  we  reached  the  hut,  when  we  exercised 
more  caution,  and  moved  deliberately,  until  we  gained  a 
position  that  enabled  us  to  hear  and  note  all  that  was  going 
on  between  Dick  and  Jenny.  They  were  seated  at  the 
table,  the  former  with  a  glass  of  grog  in  his  hand,  and  the 
latter,  looking  pale  and  melancholy,  gnawing  at  a  piece  of 
briad  as  though  she  was  hungry,  tired,  and  out  of  patience. 


CHAPTER   LXIV. 

MAD   DICK   MAKES    PEOPOSALS. A    SCOENFITIi   REJECTION.— 

VIOLENCE. TO    THE   RESCUE. 

For  a  few  minutes,  Jenny  and  Dick,  the  parties  we  were 
watching,  did  not  speak.  Dick  was  too  much  pleased  to 
open  his  mouth,  except  to  receive  the  liquor  which  he  held 
in  his  hand,  and  Jenny  seemed  too  depressed  to  utter  a 
word.  But  at  last  the  bushranger  emptied  his  tin  cup,  and 
then  remarked,  — 

"  Your  guv'ner  ain't  up  to  time,  lass.  If  he  gets  lost  in 
the  bush,  while  a  lookin'  for  that  calf,  it  '11  trouble  him  to 
find  his  way  out  agin." 

'*  He  has  been  gone  long  enough  to  eat  a  calf,"  Jenny  re- 
marked; "I'll  go  and  see  if  I  can't  find  him." 

She  started  toward?  the  door,  which  stood  open,  so  thai 


418  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

we  could  see  all  that  transpired ;  but  Mad  Dick  sprang  uj 
and  interposed. 

"  No,"  he  said,  "  yer  can't  go  now.  I  don't  care  much  if 
yer  dad  is  lost,  but  I  can't  afford  to  lose  yer.  I  loves  yer 
too  well,  lass,  for  that.  Me  and  you  must  know  each  other 
better  nor  we  do  now." 

The  impudent  scoundrel.  I  was  almost  inclined  to  shoot 
him  down  like  a  dog.  In  fact  I  did  have  my  revolver  all 
ready ;  but  Murden  restrained  me,  and  kept  me  quiet. 

"  Let  me  pass  !  "  cried  Jenny. 

"  No,  girl,  yer  don't  pass  out  of  this  hut  to-night.  I 
wants  yer  to  listen  to  me ;  so  yer  may  as  well  squat  down 
while  I  talk." 

"  I  won't  sot  down  !  "  cried  Jenny,  in  her  haughtiest  tone. 

"  Yes,  yer  will,  lass  !  "  and  the  ruffian  advanced  towards 
her,  and  attempted  to  throw  his  arms  around  her  neck ;  but 
she  retreated,  manifesting,  however,  no  signs  of  alarm.  She 
was  too  proud  to  exhibit  the  least  weakness.  "  Will  take  a 
cheer  ? "  asked  the  bushranger. 

"No,  I  won't  —  there  now,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Yer  had  better,  lass,  'cos  I  has  somethin'  to  tell  yer 
that  will  make  yer  think.  Take  that  cheer,  and  let's  have 
no  more  fuss  about  it." 

"  The  governor  must  soon  return,"  the  girl  said,  and  cast 
an  anxious  look  at  the  door. 

"  Never  yer  mind  him,  lass  ;  "  and  the  ruffian  commenced 
filling  his  pipe.  •'  If  he  comes  I  shall  cut  my  yarn  short. 
If  he  don't  I  shall  jist  make  them  blue  eyes  of  yourn  open 
wide.     You  see  if  I  don't." 

Jenny  looked  a  little  scornful  and  incredulous ;  but  still 
she  had  enough  of  woman's  curiosity  to  listen.  The  bush- 
ranger lighted  his  pipe,  and  puffed  out  volumes  of  smoke ; 
but  at  last  he  said,  — 

"  Does  yer  know  why  yer  guv'ner  brought  yer  here  ?  whj 
he  cut  from  the  city  ?  " 

"  'Cos  the  traps  was  arter  him  for  somethin'." 

"  Yes,  they  was  arter  him,  but  it  warn't  for  no  common 
thing  that  they  wanted  to  clap  their  mawleys  on  him." 


A   SCORNFUL   REJECTION.  41* 

Jcnnj  looked  at  the  bushranger  in  an  attentive  manner. 

"  In  fact,  lass,  it  was  all  on  your  account  that  the  trapa 
tjok  a  notion  to  trip  the  Pet." 

"  Mine  !     ^Tiat  have  I  done  r " 

*•  You  ain't  done  much  ;  but  it  is  all  on  your  account." 

*'Ho^?" 

*  Wall,  lass,  ye  see  the  Pet  ain't  yer  guv'ner,  and  nevei 
was,.  Tliat's  the  long  and  short  on't.  You'd  know  it  some 
time,  and  I  may  as  well  tell  yer  as  another  " 

"  What  do  yer  mean  ? " 

"  Just  what  I  say.    The  Pet  ain't  yer  dad,  and  never  was." 

"  Not  my  father  ? " 

The  girl  arose  from  the  table  in  her  excitement,  and 
looked  at  the  bushranger  as  though  she  would  read  his  soul. 

**  It's  a  lie  !  "  she  said,  at  last. 

Mad  Dick  smiled,  and  still  continued  smoking 

"Yer  gov'ner  told  me  the  whole  yarn,  this  arternoon, 
while  we  was  waitin'  to  pick  up  a  team.  It  ain't  likely  that 
he  would  lie  to  me." 

The  girl  still  continued  to  gaze  at  the  desperate  man,  un- 
certain whether  to  believe  him  or  not. 

"Yer  just  set  down,"  Mad  Dick  said,  '-if  yer  wants  mt^ 
to  continue  the  yarn.     Yer  will  find  it  mighty  funny  " 

The  girl  sat  down,  and  prepared  to  listen. 

"  Yes,  as  I  said  afore,  the  Pet  did  spin  the  whole  yarn 
this  arternoon,  while  we  was  waitin'  for  the  wagon  what  we 
took  from  the  miner.  I  hinted  to  him  that  it  was  rather 
tough  for  a,  J?an  like  me  to  be  without  a  nice  little  wife,  and 
that  I  shouldn't  object  to  takin'  a  lass  like  you." 

Miss  Jenny  started  up,  disgus^  and  passion  on  her  face 
at  the  very  thought  of  uniting  hei  fate  with  such  a  ruffian  as 
Mid  Dick. 

"  Keep  cool,"  the  man  remarked,  and  contmued  to  smoke 
in  the  most  placid  manner.  "  I  ain't  got  to  the  most  in- 
teresting part  as  yet.  You  see,  Miss  Jenny,  I  ain't  much. 
of  a  pertic'lar  man,  so  I'd  as  lives  take  you,  as  a  gal  what 
could  do  more  work.  I  told  the  Pet  so,  and  said  that  I'  i 
.overlook  some  things,  on  account  of  your  mug." 

28 


420  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Did  yer  ? "  and  tlie  girl  sneered,  as  siie  asked  the  quea- 
tion. 

**  0,  yes ;  I  yarned  it  quite  free  with  the  Pet.  He  said 
he'd  like  just  such  a  brave  cove  as  me  for  a  son-in-law  ; 
but  that  the  fact  of  it  was,  he  had  no  darter  to  give  me." 

**  He  said  that,  did  he  ?  "  asked  Jenny. 

'*  Yes.  And  more'n  that ;  'cos  when  I  said  that  I  thought 
you'd  do,  he  said  you  wasn't  no  flesh  and  blood  of  his  — - 
that  he  stole  you,  when  you  wasn't  any  bigger  than  a  kitten  ; 
and  that  you  was  the  darter  of  a  rich  nobleman  in  hold  Hing- 
land." 

"  Did  he  say  all  that?"  asked  Jenny,  after  a  long-drawn 
breath. 

"  Just  as  true  as  anything  I  ever  said,"  replied  the  bush- 
ranger, in  a  sincere  tone.  "  He  told  me  the  name  of  the 
nob  what  is  your  dad ;  but  I  ain't  got  much  ear  for  names, 
and  so  I  disremembers  it.  At  any  rate,  the  Pet  said  that 
the  old  cock  was  in  Melbourne,  a  lookin'  for  yer»  and  a 
huutin'  up  things,  and  that  the  traps,  headed  by  that  blasted 
old  scoundrel  of  a  rat,  the  commissioner,  was  all  ready  to 
lay  hands  on  him,  if  he  hadn't  stepped  out  as  he  did." 

"  0,  is  that  the  reason  why  we  left  the  city  so  sudden  ?  " 
asked  Miss  Jenn^. 

"  Yes,  'cos  the  Pet  wanted  time  to  make  terms  with  the 
nob,  and  get  a  big  haul  of  money.  He  meant  to  save  his 
neck  and  fill  his  pockets  at  the  same  time.  He's  a  smart 
one,  is  the  Pet,  and  can  even  cheat  that  ccfnfounded  Murden." 

Here  the  commissioner  uttered  a  grunt  of  dissent,  which 
attracted  the  notice  of  Mad  Dick,  for  he  sprang  to  his  feet, 
and  said,  ~ 

"  The  devil,  here's  the  guv*ner  come  back,  arter  all. 
Mum's  the  word,  yer  know." 

The  bushranger  came  to  the  door,  and  looked  out ;  but 
we  had  taken  the  precaution  to  roll  close  to  the  side  of  the 
hut,  where  the  darkness  was  so  dense  that  we  could  not  bo 
seen. 

"  Is  that  you,  Sykes  ? "  asked  Dick,  listening  for  a  re- 
sponse.    There  was  no  answer. 


A  SCORNFUL  KEJfiCTlON.  42\ 

**  It  wasn't  him,  arter  all,"  tlie  fellow  said,  "  But  ifs 
most  time  he  come  along,  if  he  means  to  come  to-night." 

After  this  cool  assurance,  the  bushranger  returned  to  hia 
chair  and  pipe. 

After  a  silence  of  a  few  moments,  Jenny  looked  up,  an(i 
said,  "  If  what  you  has  blabbed  to  me  is  true,  just  you  take 
me  to  my  new  guv'ner,  and  let  me  see  what  kind  of  a  coto 
h  ^  is." 

Mad  Dick  puffed  away  at  his  pipe  in  a  reflective  mood. 

"  It  can't  be  done,  just  yet,  lass.  If  the  Pet  shouldn't 
come  back,  I'll  think  of  it,"  returned  the  bushranger.  "  In 
the  mean  time,  don't  yer  say  one  word  of  this  'ere  to  him, 
'cos  he  has  his  plans.;  and  them  'ere  plans  ain't  no  good 
to  yer." 

"  I  don't  believe  it,"  Miss  Jenny  cried  ;  *'  you  has  some 
motive  in  tellin'  me  this." 

Mad  Dick  laughed  in  a  subdued  manner.  Then  he  laid 
his  pipe  upon  the  table,  went  to  a  pile  of  straw  in  one  cor- 
ner, took  out  a  bottle  of  liquor  concealed  there,  opened  it, 
poured  out  near  a  nug  full,  and  said,  — 

"  I  gives  yer.  Miss  Jenny,  yer  'ealth,  and  may  you  soon 
be  the  affectionate  wife  of  yer  'umble  servant.  Mad  Dick." 

Miss  Jenny  started  to  her  feet,  her  face  all  of  a  blaze 
with  rage  and  excitement. 

"  How  dare  yer  talk  to  me  in  that 'ere  style  ?"  she  asked. 
"  Don't  yer  do  so  no  more,  or  I'll  leave  the  hut." 

"  And  where  will  yer  go,  my  daisy  ?  The  natives  is 
around  ;  and  if  you  miss  them,  there  is  lots  of  bushrangers 
to  pick  yer  up.  Come,  just  be  a  little  reasonable,  my  chicken ; 
and  listen  to  a  man  what  has  his  ups  and  downs,  as  well  as 
most  folks." 

"  Well,  don't  yer  talk  to  me  about  such  stuff  ag'in,"  the 
girl  remarked,  and  down  she  sat. 

The  bushranger  smiled  in  a  peculiar  manner,  but  did  not 
promise  that  he  would  remain  silent. 

"  Yer  see,  my  deary,  that  I'se  a  bad  man,  as  the  traps 
says  that  I  is,  which  don't  signify,  'cos  they  is  awful  liars. 
Well,  such  bein'  the  case,  what  can  I  do  ?     I  must  do  the 


422  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

best  I  can ;  that  is  a  sound  argament,  and  no  one  will  dia-. 
pute  it.  Wall,  what  is  the  best  ?  Let  me  sec  ;  I  am  a 
houtlaw,  and  a  price  is  set  on  my  head.  Very  good.  It's 
some  consolation  to  know  that  my  head  is  wallable  ;  but  it's 
worth  more  to  me  than  it  is  to  any  other  man.  Now,  deary, 
listen  to  me  sharp,  'cos  here  comes  the  whole  pint  of  the 
argament.  I've  tried  bushrangin'.  I've  seen  enough  of  it 
to  satisfy  most  any  white  man.  I  wants  a  little  rest,  and  a 
chance  to  enjoy  the  dosh  what  I  has  in  the  gn>und  all  0  7er 
the  country.     Through  you  I  can  do  it." 

Jenny  looked  at  him  with  a  porter-house  glare  that  re- 
minded me  of  scenes  in  the  Red  Lion,  when  she  and  I  used 
to  quarrel. 

"  Yes,  lass,"  the  bushranger  went  on  to  say,  not  paying 
the  least  attention  to  the  scowl  that  passed  over  the  girl's 
face,  "  you  is  the  one  that  I  has  set  on  to  help  me  out  of 
the  bloody  fix  what  I  is  in.  I  didn't  think  of  such  a  thing 
till  the  Pet  told  me  who  you  was,  this  arternoon.  Then  I 
saw  a  chance  for  my  life,  and  Mad  Dick  isn't  the  one  to 
throw  it  away." 

*'  What  do  yer  mean  ?  " 

"I'll  tell  yer,  lass,  in  a  few  vords.  I  wants  a  vife 
to  comb  my  hair  and  viskers.  You  is  the  one  for  me 
Yer  see,  lass,  if  yer  marries  me,  then  I  has  yer  to  save 
my  neck.  Yer  tells  yer  new  guv'ner  that  yer  loves  me, 
and  all  that,  and  that  he  must  use  his  influence  to  have  me 
pardoned.  He  does  so  on  your  account,  and  then  I  becomes 
a  moral  and  respected  member  of  society.     Do  yer  see  ?" 

"  How  dare  yer  make  such  a  proposal  to  me,  when  yer 
know  that  I  hate  yer  ? "  demanded  Jenny,  in  a  fierce  tone. 
"I  will  remain  here  no  longer  to  be  insulted.  Do  yer  think 
that  I  would  marry  such  a  brute  as  you  ?  I  scorn  and  detest 
yer.     Never  speak  to  me  on  such  a  subject  again." 

'*  It's  most  time  to  interfere,"  whispered  Murden.  "  The 
devil  is  being  aroused.  We  must  be  prepared,  or  harm  may 
come  to  the  gal." 

"  Set  down  there ! "  said  Dick,  in  a  low  but  threatening 
tone,  as  Jenny  moved  towards  the  door. 


VIOLENCE.  42a 

"Do  jer  tliiiik  I'm  a  nigger,  to  be  talked  :o  in  that  sort 
of  manner  ?  "  the  dauntless  girl  asked.  "  No,  I'm  no  slave. 
ril  go  where  I  please,  and  for  all  yer  !  " 

Mad  Dick  left  his  chair  and  rushed  towards  the  door, 
and  so  sudden  was  his  movement  that  he  reached  it  before 
Jenny. 

'*  Go  back  I  "  he  said,  in  a  low,  sullen  tone. 

"  I  won't,"  she  replied.  "  I'm  goin'  to  look  for  the  old 
man.  He'll  protect  me,  even  if  he  ain't  my  guv'ner,  aa 
yer  say." 

"  Yer  can't  leave  this  hut  to-nighi  ;  and  yer  can't  speak 
with  the  Pet,  even  if  he  should  come  back.  Now  go  and 
take  that  cheer,  and  hear  me,  'cos  yer  must  be  my  wife. 
There's  no  gettin'  away  from  it." 

He  put  out  his  hands  and  suddenly  seized  Jenny  around 
her  waist,  and  pressed  her  to  his  rough  bosom.  She  strug- 
gled fiercely  to  get  free ;  but  the  ruffian  held  her  firm,  so 
that  she  could  not  move  her  body,  although  both  of  her 
hands  were  at  liberty. 

"  Let  me  go  !  "  she  said,  in  a  threatening  tone. 

"  No,  I  won't,"  was  the  answer.     "  I  likes  this." 

The  girl  appeared  to  be  aroused  to  a  feeling  of  despera- 
tion at  the  answer.  She  turned  a  little,  so  that  she  could 
use  her  hands,  and  then,  with  a  shrill  cry,  made  a  dash  at 
his  face.  Her  finger-nails  must  have  been  long  and  sharp, 
for  I  saw  a  few  drops  of  blood  follow  her  savage  blows.  Two 
or  three  times  the  girl  drew  blood,  and  at  the  same  moment 
she  called  thj  bushranger  all  the  vile  names^  that  a  long 
attendance  in  a  beer  saloon  placed  at  her  disposal.  At  last 
Mad  Dick  grew  tired  of  such  work,  and  all  the  devil  of  his 
nature  showed  itself.  He  put  one  hand  around  her  slender, 
graceful  throat,  and  hissed,  between  his  clinched  teeth,— r 

"  Blast  yer  for  a  ugly  cat,  what  scratches  !  You  won't  be 
kind  to  one  what  wants  to  be  kind  to  you.  Now  take  this, 
will  yer  ? " 

It  was  e  vddent  at  a  gla,nce  that  the  man  determined  to  mur- 
der her.  He  was  desperate  —  mad  with  her  scorn,  and  furi- 
ous at  the  number  of  scratches  she  had  inflicted  upon  him. 


424  THE  BUSHKANGEES. 

"  ITelp  ! "  shrieked  Jenny,  wlio  surmised  the  man's  inten. 
tioD,  and  had  no  desire  to  die  just  then. 

"This  has  gone  far  enough,"  I  whispered  to  Murden; 
**  it  is  time  for  us  to  interfere." 

"  Yes,  I  think  it  is,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Come,"  I  said,  and  arose  and  stole  into  the  hut. 

I  was  within  two  feet  of  the  bushranger,  and  yet  he  had 
not  noticed  me ;  neither  had  Jenny.  I  raised  my  pistol,  in- 
tending to  knock  him  down  with  it ;  but  just  at  that  moment, 
Murden,  who  did  not  believe  in  half  measures,  fired  his  re- 
volver, placing  it  close  to  the  side  of  Mad  Dick,  so  that  the 
ball  should  pass  completely  through  the  man's  body.  The 
report  of  the  pistol  was  clear  and  sharp.  The  bushranger 
uttered  a  yell  of  surprise,  released  his  hold  of  the  girl, 
staggered  back  a  pace  or  two,  and  then  plunged  forward  and 
fell  to  the  floor,  and  the  next  instant  I  received  in  my  arms 
the  insensible  form  of  Miss  Jenny. 


CHAPTER    LXV. 

A»    AGREEABIE    SUHPEISE. FATHER   AND    DAUGHTER.  

THE    pet's    regrets. 

The  report  of  the  pistol  startled  the  men,  who  were  in 
ambush  around  the  hut ;  so  they  poured  into  the  room  in  an 
unceremonious  manner,  pistols  in  hand,  ready  to  shoot  down 
all  who  opposed  them.  The  police  looked  to  Murden  for 
instructions.  They  did  not  manifest  the  least  surprise  at  the 
Bcene  before  them,  for  they  were  used  to  deeds  of  violence, 
and  had  seen  too  much  blood  flow  to  care  for  the  little  that 
oozed  from  the  bushranger's  body. 

"  Take  the  fellow  up,  and  carry  him  out  of  doors,"  said 
Murden  —  "  carefully,  for  he  has  some  life  in  him  yet." 

''  Not  as  much  as  I  desire,"  groaned  the  bushranger.  "  I 
only  wish  I  was  on  my  feet,  without  this  accursed  hole  in  my 


AN  AGREEABLE  SURPRISE.  42S 

body,  rd  serve  yon  a  trick  that  would  repay  me  for  all  the 
Bufferings  I  now  endure.  But  Mad  Dick's  time  is  almost 
up,  ana  what 's  the  use  of  his  bouncing  ?" 

"  Take  away  his  knife  and  pistol,"  the  commissioner  said 
in  a  sharp  tone,  for  his  eye  detected  a  moVement  on  the  paii 
of  the  bushranger  that  appeared  as  though  he  was  still 
anxious  to  avenge  his  injuries. 

In  fact,  Dick  had  raised  one  hand  in  the  direction  of  the 
butt  of  his  pistol ;  and,  though  the  movement  was  a  rapid 
one,  the  officer  detected  it.  The  men  obeyed  the  order,  and 
Dick  submitted  without  a  struggle,  for  it  would  have  been 
useless  in  his  condition.  They  bore  the  man  out  of  the  hut, 
and  laid  him  on  the  ground,  while  one  of  the  men,  who  un- 
derstood something  of  surgery,  stripped  off  the  bushranger's 
clothes,  and  examined  the  wound  by  the  aid  of  candle-light. 
'  "  Well,"  said  Murden,  turning  to  me,  "  do  you  intend  to 
stand  there  all  night,  holding  the  girl  in  your  arms  ?  It  is 
agreeable,  I've  no  doubt,  but  still  rather  inconvenient  to  the 
lass.  I  suppose  that  she  would  recover  in  a  few  minutes  if 
placed  upon  that  straw,  and  her  face  wet  with  water.  What 
do  you  think  ?  " 

I  thought  so  too ;  so  I  raised  her  in  my  arms,  and  carried 
her  to  the  straw  and  laid  her  down,  then  wet  her  face  with 
water,  and  at  last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her  large  blue 
eyes  open  and  rest  on  my  face. 

"  Do  you  know  me,  Jenny  ? "  I  asked,  in  a  low  tone. 

*' Yes,  I  know  you." 

*'And  are  you  glad- to  see  me  ?" 

*'  Yes,  'cos  yer  come  just  in  time  to  save  me.  But  you  is 
Btill  with  the  traps  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  these  same  traps  saved  3^our  life.  Remember 
that,  Jenny." 

"  I  will.  Now  give  me  some  of  that  water  to  drink. 
Yer  needn't  keep  your  arms  around  my  neck ;  I  can  do 
without  'em." 

She  wet  her  lips  with  water,  and  then  asked,  "  What  did 
you  go  off  for  the  other  day  ?    I  don't  like  it." 

"To  save   my  life.     Your  father  and  Mad  Dick    i^ould 


426  THE  BUSHRANGEKS. 

have  killed  me,  or  kept  me  in  custody  as  long  as  they  could 
That  is  the  reason  why  I  went." 

*'  You  ain't  tellin'  me  lies  ? "  asked  this  charming  maiden, 
looking  into  my  eyes,  as  though  to  discover  if  1  spoke  the 
truth. 

"  I  never  tell  lies,"  I  answered,  in  a  grave  tone,  as  if  to 
convince  her  that  I  was  above  the  common  herd. 

"  0,  don't  yer  ?  then  you  is  different  from  other  men.  1 
s'posed  that  all  men  yarned  it  a  little." 

"  Then  consider  me  different  from  other  men,  now  and 
hereafter.  Whenever  I  speak  to  you,  it  will  be  with  a 
tongue  of  truth." 

"  0,  hang  yer  sermons.  I  want  yer  to  tell  me  how  yer 
came  here  ;  you  was  just  in  time,  wasn't  yer  ? " 

"Yes,  thank  Heaven.  A  few  moments  longer,  and  it 
would  have  been  too  late.  The  ruffian  had  determined  to 
murder  you." 

"  Is  yer  really  glad  that  he  didn't  ?"  asked  the  young  girl ; 
and  a  look  of  tenderness  shone  from  her  eyes  —  such  a  glanco 
as  I  had  never  seen  in  them  before. 

*'  Can  you  doubt  it  ?  "  I  asked  in  a  whisper  ;  for  I  did  not 
care  to  have  any  one  hear  me  when  I  was  in  a  tender  mood. 

*'  0, 1  don't  know ;  you  coves  tell  the  queerest  kind  of 
stories  sometimes.  I've  heard  a  good  many  of  'em.  All 
the  coves  —  the  flash  ones,  I  mean  —  what  come  into  the  Red 
Lion  used  to  tell  me  all  sorts  of  nonsense,  when  I'd  listen 
to  'em.  Sometimes  I'd  hear  'em,  and  sometimes  I  wouldn't. 
It  was  just  as  I  felt." 

"  But  you  will  never  have  occasion  to  again  hear  bad 
language." 

"  Can  yer  spell  all  the  hard  words  yer  use  ? "  asked  this 
charming  child  of  nature. 

*'  I  hope  so,"  I  answered,  although  I  could  hardly  keep 
from  laughing  at  the  question. 

"  Then  yer  must  know  more'n  my  guv'ner,  'cos  he  can't 
spell  at  all.  But  now  I  think  of  it,  what  did  Mad  Dick 
mean  by  saying  that  Sykes  wasn't  my  guv'ner  ?  Yer  can  telJ 
me  something  about  it,  can't  yer  ? " 


THE  END  OF  MAD  DUJK.  427 

•'Yes,  I  know  all  about  it,  and  could  have  told  you  at  the 
time  I  was  a  prisoner  here/' 

"  Why  didn't  yer,  then  ?  " 

"  For  several  reasons.  You  were  cross  with  me,  and  sus- 
picious at  the  same  time.  If  I  informed  you,  I  should  not 
have  been  believed." 

"  I  don't  know  ;  perhaps  I  should  have  thought  your  gab 
was  all  right." 

Just  then  Murden  entered  the  station.  He  gave  us  a  sharp 
glance,  saw  that  we  were  quite  satisfied  with  each  other, 
whistled  a  bar  of  "  God  save  the  Queen,"  and  then  said, — 

"  Dick  is  gone.  He  stuck  out  to  the  last,  and  died  like  a 
bushranger.  One  devil  the  less  on  earth ;  that's  some  con- 
solation." 

"  Is  he  dead  ? "  asked  Jenny. 

"Yes;  just  slipped  his  cable,  and  went  up.  He  died 
with  a  hardened  heart ;  for  although  I  asked,  even  begged 
him  to  tell  me  where  his  money  was  buried,  he  said  that  he'd 
see  me  d — d  first.  And  with  that  he  gasped,  and  went  off 
on  a  new  ranging  expedition.  Well,  a  man  who  won't  tell 
the  police  where  a  treasure  is  buried  will  never  get  to 
heaven ;  that  is  one  good  thing." 

"  Well,"  said  Jenny,  with  a  shudder,  "  though  the  man 
abused  me,  still  he  had  some  kindness  in  his  heart,  and  I'm 
almost  sorry  that  he's  dead.  He  and  the  guv'ner  was  just 
as  thick  as  two  thieves." 

'*  Would  you  like  to  see  Sykes  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Of  course  I  would.  Where  is  he  ?  Dick  said  he  was 
lost  in  the  bush,  while  chasing  arter  a  calf." 

"  He  was  arrested  by  the  police,  while  in  pursuit  of  the 
animal,  and  is  now  a  prisoner.  Let  him  come  in,  if  yc\i 
please,  Mr.  Murden." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  commissioner.  "  Bill,  bring  in  the 
Pet." 

The  Pet  did  not  present  a  prepossessing  appearance,  for 
the  reason  that  the  blood  from  the  cut  on  his  head  had 
flowed  on  his  face,  and  dried  there  in  spots,  resembling  a 
North  American  sava;]je  in  the  war  path 


§28  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

*'  You're  the  cove  what  hit  me  the  rap  on  the  head,"  ike 
prize-fighter  said,  as  soon  as  he  saw  that  I  stood  before  him. 

"  No  ;  I  am  sorry  to  state  that  my  hand  didn't  do  that  joh  ; 
but  it  is  some  slight  recompense  for  the  blow  which  you  gave 
me  a  few  days  ago.  You  remember,  do  you  not?"  and  I 
pointed  to  my  head,  which  was  still  bandaged. 

The  Pet  smiled,  in  a  prize-fighting  sort  of  way,  as  though 
he  thought  we  were  even,  so  far  as  punishment  was  con- 
cerned.    And  then  he  turned  to  Jenny. 

*'  The  traps  has  me,  at  last,  girl,  and  I  must  do  the  best  T 
can.  They  can't  do  nothin'  to  you,  lass  ;  so  you  had  better 
go  where  I  told  you,  and  keep  quiet  till  I  turn  up  again. 
They  can't  do  much  with  me.     They  has  no  proof." 

"  There  is  where  you  are  mistaken,"  I  replied.  "  Here  is 
the  proof,"  and  I  pointed  to  Jenny. 

"  What  does  you  mean  ? "  demanded  the  bushranger,  with 
a  pretended  look  of  surprise,  for  Jenny  had  manifested  no 
sign  of  recognition  since  he  had  entered  the  hut. 

"  It  means,"  I  answered,  "  that  your  crime  is  discovered, 
and  that  Miss  Jenny  is  aware  of  it.  I^Iother  Brown  has 
made  a  full  confession,  in  the  presence  of  the  commissioner, 
Sir  "William  Byfield,  and  myself.  The  game  is  up.  You 
may  as  well  acknowledge  it,  and  make  a  full  confession." 

The  Pet  appeared  a  little  staggered  at  the  thought  that 
his  rascality  was  known  to  the  girl  who  had  so  long  called 
him  father.  He  glanced  at  her,  and  his  face  wore  an  ex- 
pression which  showed  he  was  affected.  That  look  touched 
Jenny's  heart,  and  I  was  rejoiced  to  know  it,  for  it  proved 
that  she  had  one,  tender  and  true,  but  that  circumstances 
of  a  peculiar  nature  Were  required  to  bring  out  the  fidl 
expression.  She  went  towards  the  Pet,  and  threw  her 
arms  around  his  burly  form,  —  his  neck  she  could  not 
reach,  —  and  laid  her  head  against  his  stout  breast; 
and  the  prize-fighter  raised  his  manacled  hands,  and 
placed  them  on  the  girl's  head,  struggled  for  a  moment  to 
control  his  feelings,  found  that  he  could  not,  and  then 
allowed  large  tear-drops  to  escape  from  his  eyes,  and  trickle 
down  his  rough  cheeks. 

I 


FATHER  AND  DAUGHTER.  42^ 

*•  It's  a  pity  you  couldn't  have  had  a  little  feeling  some 
^ears  ago,"  the  commissioner  remarked,  thinking  that  the 
display  was  a  hypocritical  one. 

Sykes  made  no  reply.  He  was  not  prepared  to  re»ent 
Bucb  sneers  or  taunts.  He  was  too  much  humiliated  for 
^hat,  I  gave  the  commissioner  a  look  that  he  understood, 
and  shook  my  head.  He  nodded  in  reply ;  and  then  we  hjid 
the  pleasure  of  listening  to  the  conversation  that  ensued 
between  Jenny  and  the  man  she  had  always  known  as 
her  father. 

"  Well,  lass,  I  is  down  now,  and  the  traps  is  up,  and  it's 
all  on  your  account.  But  I  loves  you,  lass,  just  as  well  as 
though  you  was  —  " 

The  bushranger  paused,  and  seemed  reluctant  to  proceed, 

"I  knows  what  yer  mean,"  Jenny  whispered.  "Yer 
ain't  my  guv'ner." 

"  No,  I  ain't,  lass.  I  had  you  took  when  jou  was  a  little 
wee  thing,  and  I  has  kept  you  ever  since.  But  I  loves  you, 
lass,  just  as  well  as  if  I  was  your  own  guv'ner." 

"  Yer  havn't  allers  been  kind  to  me,"  Jenny  murmured, 
tears  streaming  down  her  cheeks,  "  and  yer  has  sometimes 
m9,de  money  out  of  me,  'cos  I  had  a  handsome  face,  and  the 
men  liked  to  look  at  it.  Yer  knows  yer  has  made  'em  drink 
when  they  didn't  need  any  more,  simply  by  tellin'  them  that 
I  should  leave  the  bar,  if  there  wasn't  more  calls ;  but  for 
all  of  that,  I  is  sorry  to  see  yer  down  in  the  mouth,  'cos  I 
kinder  cares  for  yer." 

"  I  hopes  yer  does,  lass,"  groaned  the  Pet,  the  tears  still 
falling. 

"Yes,  I  does  care  for  yer,"  the  girl  said.  "  If  you  ain't 
my  guv'ner,  who  is  ?" 

"  I  can't  tell  yer  just  yet,"  answered  the  Pet.  "  Give  me 
a  little  more  time." 

"  No,"  she  said.  "  There's  no  time  like  the  present.  I 
knows  most  all  about  it,  now.  Arter  yer  was  gone  for  the 
calf,  Mad  Dick  told  me  some  th:ngs  that  caused  my  eyes  to 
open  ;  and  then  he  wanted  me  to  marry  him,  so  that  my  new 
jTUv'ner  could  save  his  neck  " 


430  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"  The  scoundrel,"  muttered  the  Pet.  "  If  I'd  been  here, 
Fd  mashed  him.     I'd  sent  him  to  the  devil  in  no  time.*' 

"  So  you  may  as  well  tell  me  all.  Peachin'  will  do  you 
good." 

"  You  may  as  well  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,"  said  I, 
stepping  forward.  "  We  know  all  the  means  you  have 
employed  to  steal  the  child,  and  transport  her  to  Australia. 
Erery  movement  has  been  traced,  every  act  recorded." 

"  I  don't  promise  mercy,"  the  commissioner  remarked. 
"  But  still  I  say,  peach,  and  have  done  with  it." 

"  I  know  you  has  been  on  my  track  for  some  time  past," 
the  Pet  said,  in  a  reflecting  tone ;  **  but  I  know'd  all  that 
was  goin'  on,  and  when  you  got  ready  to  strike,  I  cut  and 
run,  *cos  I  thought  I  could  play  shy  for  a  time,  and  that  all 
would  blow  over." 

*'  You  thick-headed  fool,  what  nonsense  that  was !  "  re- 
turned the  blunt  commissioner.  "  You  might  have  known 
better." 

The  prize-fighter  winced  a  little,  but  managed  to  remark 
that  all  were  not  so  full  of  science  as  Mr.  Murden. 

"But  that  has  nothin' to  do  with  my  question,"  Jenny 
said,  in  an  impatient  tone.     "  Tell  me  who  my  guv'ner  is." 

The  Pet  gave  a  mighty  gulp,  as  though  something  waa 
sticking  in  his  throat,  and  then  sighed  as  he  answered,  — 

"  Your  guv'ner  is  one  of  the  nobs  of  old  Hingland,  lass. 
Me  and  him  was  quite  intimate  at  one  time.  He  backed 
me  when  I  fought  the  British  Butcher,  and  I  won  that  fight 
arter  thirty  rounds,  what  took  just  two  hours  and  a  half." 

"  I  knows  all  that,"  returned  the  impatient  girl.  *'  Hot^ 
many  times  are  yer  goin'  to  tell  me  of  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  see,  lass,  it  was  a  game  fight,  and  made  a  stir 
in  old  Hingland  at  the  time.  Well,  the  next  fight  I  had  was 
with  —  " 

"  Hang  your  fights !  Will  yer  tell  me  the  name  of  my 
new  guv'ner  ?" 

"  I  hates  him,  lass." 

'*  And  yet  you  had  no  cause  to  hate  him,"  replied  a  deep, 
grave  voice,  that  I  instantly  recognized,  although  it  fell  upan 


FATHER   AND    DAUGHTER.  431 

my  ears  so  anexpectedly  that  it  startled  me  as  much  as  if  I 
had  heard  a  response  from  the  grave. 

All  but  Murden  were  surprised.  The  commissic*ier 
looked  as  though  the  interruption  was  not  entirely  un- 
expected. We  turned  to  get  a  view  of  the  new-comer,  and 
there  he  stood,  apparently  as  calm  as  when  I  last  parted 
from  him,  his  blue  eyes  looking  humid  with  the  emotion  thai 
stirred  his  heart  to  its  foundation.  The  Pet  released  Jeanj 
from  his  embrace,  and  staggered  back  as  though  a  bullet 
had  passed  through  his  breast ;  but  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  the 
baronet's  face,  he  exclaimed,  in  a  low  tone,  — 

"It  is  Sir  WiUiam!" 

"  Yes,  it  is  Sir  William  —  the  man  whom  you  have  so  ter- 
ribly wronged,  who  has  been  on  your  track  for  some  months 
past,  and  who  now  has  evidence  sufficient  to  bring  you  to 
justice." 

"  Yes,  I  has  wronged  you,"  returned  the  Pet,  with  an 
averted  head,  and  with  a  voice  that  was  husky  with  emo- 
tion." 

"  And  yet  I  had  never  injured  you,  as  you  well  knew," 
answered  the  baronet. 

"  You  wouldn't  back  me  when  I  was  tryin'  to  make  a 
match  with  the  Northampton  Slasher,"  said  the  old  prize- 
fighter, as  though  that  was  an  excuse  for  his  conduct. 

"  Because  I  had  previously  informed  you  I  was  to  be 
married,  and  desired  to  break  with  all  my  old  disreputable 
associates.  It  was  no  idle  information  that  I  sent.  I  meant 
it ;  and  in  spite  of  the  efforts  that  were  made  to  draw  me 
back  to  the  vortex  of  a  wild  life,  I  remained  firm.  This 
you  were  aware  of,  and  yet  you  thought  that  you  could  strike 
me  to  the  heart  by  stealing  my  only  child." 

Jenny  started  forward,  her  hands  clasped,  arid  her  sweet 
face  expressing  all  the  internal  emotions  that  she  felt.  She 
began  to  comprehend  that  her  real  father  stood  before  her. 

"  Yes,  I  took  her,  Sir  William,"  the  Pet  answered. 

"  I  know  you  did,  and  misery  enough  you  caused  a  happy 
household  by  su(,'h  conduct.  Now  do  what  you  can  in  the 
vray  of  restitution." 


432  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  I  will,  Sir  William,"  was  the  answer,  but  in  a  tone  that 
showed  that  the  heart  of  the  Pet  was  touched. 

"  Then  restore  to  my  arms  the  daughter  whom  you  stole 
from  me." 

"  And  if  I  does,  Sir  William,  will  you  overlook  all  the 
faults  what  I  has  committed  ?  " 

"  I  will  make  no  promises.  You  cannot  keep  me  from  my 
child,  even  if  you  lie  about  the  matter.  I  know  her,  and  all 
about  her." 

"  She's  a  good  girl.  Sir  William,  and  can  sell  more  beer 
and  make  change  faster  than  any  girl  what  I  ever  see'd. 
She  can,  indeed." 

The  aristocratic  face  of  Sii  William  expressed  the  deepest 
disgust  at  this  information. 

*'  I  don't  want  you  to  have  me  up  afore  the  beaks,  Sir 
William,  on  the  charge  of  baggin'  the  lass,  'cos  I  has  allers 
treated  her  well,  and  she'll  say  so." 

"  Tell  me,  is  this  the  one  whom  you  caused  to  be  abduct- 
ei  ?"  asked  the  baronetf  and  pointed  to  Jenny. 

The  Pet  hesitated  for  a  moment,  as  though  he  would  like 
to  tell  a  lie  if  he  dared  to ;  but  a  stern  glance  from  the 
police  commissioner  decided  him,  and  he  answered,  — 

"  Jenny  is  yer  darter,  Sir  William." 

"  I  knew  it  all  along,"  was  the  quiet  response  ;  but  a  deep 
sigh  escaped  the  father  as  he  opened  his  arms. 

For  a  moment  Jenny  hesitated  and  blushed  to  her  eyes  at 
the  thought  of  having  a  stranger's  arms  around  her ;  but  at 
last  she  rushed  forward  with  a  glad  cry,  and  fell  upon  her 
father's  breast.  Sykes  uttered  a  howl  and  a  snivel  at  the 
sight ;  and  upon  my  word  I  saw  tears  trickle  down  his  rough 
face. 

"Come,"  I  said  to  Murden,  "let  us  leave  them  alone. 
This  scene  is  too  sacred  to  be  witnessed  by  us." 

"  Ptight,"  was  the  prompt  answer.     "  We'll  go." 

He  touched  the  Pet  on  the  arm,  and  motioned  to  him  to 
leave  the  hut ;  and  the  fellow  obeyed,  although  he  uttered  a 
sob  that  seemed  to  come  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart  as 
he  did  p,o.     Outside  of  the  hut  I  found  camp  fires  brightly 


.  \ 


lvC^.v%#%.^ 


A  LITTLE   LOVE.  43$ 

burning,  and  a  large  number  of  blue-coated  police ;  and  tliei? 
I  learned  for  the  first  time  that  Mr.  Brown  and  his  men  had 
arrived  in  company  with  Sir  William  —  a  fact  that  wan  com- 
municated to  Murden  when  he  allowed  the  Pet  to  have  an 
interview  with  Miss  Jenny.  The  commissioner  had  planned 
the  surprise ;  and  an  agreeable  one  it  was  on  some  account? 


GHAPTEE  LXVI. 

A.    LITTLE    LOVE. A   FEW    EXPLANATIONS,  AND    A    TABLEAU. 

In  the  course  of  an  hour  or  so,  the  baronet  passed  frora 
the  hut.  Murden,  who  was  all  attention,  went  to  meet 
him,  and  profi'er  his  services.  To  my  surprise,  Sir  WilKam 
put  his  arm  through  Murden's,  and  walked  away  from  the 
camp  fires. 

"  The  baronet  is  growing  considerate,"  I  thought. 

I  re-filled  my  pipe,  and  commenced  smoking,  wondering 
how  Miss  Jenny  would  now  deport  herself,  since  she  had 
found  a  new  father,  and  a  position  in  society  that  might  turn 
the  brain  of  many  a  young  and  giddy  girl. 

*'  Well,"  I  sighed,  "  it's  nothing  to  me,  after  all.  Her 
father  will  take  her  to  England,  will  give  her  a  good  educa- 
tion, and  then  she  will  be  introduced  into  society  as  la  telle 
Australienne,  marry  some  one  with  a  title,  and  forget  her 
Yankee  friends."  As  I  thus  thought,  I  looked  up  and  saw 
the  girl  standing  in  the  door  of  the  hut,  as  if  she  wanted  to 
speak  to  some  one.  I  imagined  that  she  was  waiting  for 
ber  father,  so  did  not  go  near  her;^but  Mr.  Brown  did,  and 
came  back  saying,  — 

"  Devilish  pretty  girl,  ain't  she  ?  Don't  want  to  see  me 
though.  You're  the  one.  She  asked  after  you,  and  said 
that  she  wanted  to  speak  to  you.     Go  and  see  her." 

I  threw   aside   my   pipe,  and  went  towards   Jenny,  my 
heart  trembling  as  though  it  would  deprive  me  of  strength. 
Ft  was  in  vain  that  I  attempted  to  regain  composure.     I  was 
2g 


434  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

but  a  coward  in  the  presence  of  that  girl,  ignorant,  yel 
handsome  as  a  picture  of  the  Madonna  ;  proud  as  a  duchess 
when  she  was  but  a  bar-maid ;  wilful  in  her  fancies  in  her 
lowly  station,  what  must  she  be  now  that  she  has  found  Her- 
self the  heiress  of  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  England  ? 
These  thoughts  passed  through  my  mind  as  I  walked  towards 
the  young  lady,  as  she  stood  in  the  door-way,  shading  he^ 
eyes  with  her  well-formed  hand,  so  that  she  could  look  forth 
and  scan  the  several  groups  of  men  who  were  clustered 
around  the  camp  fires. 

*'  Mr.  Brown  informs  me  that  you  wish  to  speak  to  me," 
I  said,  addressing  the  girl  so  unexpectedly  that  she  started 
and  retreated  several  paces  into  the  hut,  as  though  my  words 
had  alarmed  her. 

*'  Law,  how  you  frightened  me  !  "  she  said.  *'  I  did  not 
Know  you  was  so  near.  Why  didn't  yer  let  me  know  you 
was  comin'  ?  " 

"  You  might  have  known  that  I  would  come  if  you  sent 
fOi-  me,"  I  remarked,  in  a  low  tone. 

**  Would  you  r  Indeed  !  •  Well,  I'm  glad  to  hear  it.  But 
come  in.  I  want  you  to  see  me,  now  I  am  a  great  lady. 
0,  I've  had  such  a  long  palaver  with  my  new  guv'ner.  He't; 
ever  so  good,  and  he  kissed  me  every  time^  made  a  mistake 
in  talkin'.     What  do  you  think  of  that  ? " 

*'  I  should  like  no  better  privilege,"  I  answered,  with  a 
low  bow  and  a  smile. 

*'  Jest  like  yer  impertinence.  You  ought  to  be  ashamed 
of  yerself,  that's  what  yer  had." 

*'  I  don't  think  there  is  much  cause  to  be  ashamed  o? 
k.ssing  a  pretty  girl,"  I  remarked,  in  a  jesting  tone. 

**  Did  you  ever  kiss  one  ?  "  Miss  Jenny  asked. 

**  Yes,  several." 

*•  Then  let  me  tell  you  they  was  mean  things,  and  that 
if  I  ever  see'd  'em,  I'd  scratch  their  eyes  out.  I  don't  want 
any  more  to  say  to  yer." 

She  retreated  into  the  house,  and  would  have  shut  the 
door,  but  I  followed  and  prevented  her. 

"Ah.  but  let  me  explain.  Miss  Jenny.     It  was  before  I 


A  LITTLE  LOVE.  43| 

bad  the  pleasure  of  your  acquaintance  that  I  kii'sed  the 
young  girls." 

"  I  don't  care ;  it  was  a  mean  piece  of  business,  and  yoq 
bad  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself;  that's  what  you  had." 

*'  But  listen  to  me  for  a  moment !  "  I  cried.  "  While  I 
T7as  kissing  them,  I  thought  I  was  kissing  you." 

This  appeared  to  confound  her,  and  she  seemed  not  to 
know  how  to  construe  my  words.     At  last  she  said,  — 

*'  If  you  liked  me  you  wouldn't  have  kissed  the  mean 
things." 

*'  It  h  because  I  wanted  some  one  to  love  that  I  kissed 
them.     Now  you  should  be  satisfied." 

"  WeU,  won't  you  make  such  a  mistake  again  ? "  the 
young  lady  asked,  as  she  turned  her  diamond  rings,  which 
glittered  on  her  fingers,  and  then  stole  a  look  at  my  face. 

"  How  can  I  tell  ?     I  must  have  some  one  to  love." 

"  Well,  haven't  you  got  some  one  ?  "  and  the  large  blue 
eyes  were  raised  to  my  face  with  a  look  that  expressed  sur- 
prise. 

"  No,  Jenny,  no  one." 

She  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  then  took  a  step  towarda 
me,  and  held  out  her  hands,  while  by  the  poor  light  which 
the  candle  gavef  I  noticed  that  her  face,  so  beautiful  at  all 
times,  in  anger  and  repose,  was  sufi'used  with  blushes. 

"  Then  you  don't  care  for  me,  do  you  ?  " 

She  laid  her  hand  on  mine,  and  looked  up  in  my  face  with 
an  expression  that  an  angel  might  have  envied. 

"  I  do  care  for  you,  Jenny,"  I  said ;  and  there  I  stopped, 

"  Well." 

My  declaration  did  not  seem  to  satisfy  her.  Her  face  ex . 
pressed  a  wish  for  more  forcible  language. 

"  Well,"  she  repeated,  and  seemed  to  wait  for  something. 

"  I  can't  speak  to  you  now,  Jenny,  as  I  could  have  spoken 
to  you  had  your  father  been  other  than  he  is.     It  is  useless  ' 
for  me  to  tell  you  the  feelings  of  my  heart." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  If  you  tell  me  how  much  you 
like  me,  it  seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  pleasant  'lort  of 
gab.     Come,  go  ahead." 


436  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

SLe  came  close  to  me,  so  close  that  lier  red  lips  were 
very  near  mine,  and  I  felt  the  sweetness  of  her  breath  as  it 
touched  my  cheek.  It  was  rather  a  tempting  position  for 
a  young  and  enthusiastic  admirer  of  beauty  ;  but  I  managed 
to  control  my  feelings,  as  I  asked,  — 

"  What  would  you  have  me  say,  Jenny  ?  " 

"  Say  what  is  next  to  your  heart,"  she  whispered. 

**  I  dare  not.     Better  that  I  keep  silent." 

"  Why  ? "  and  her  large  blue  eyes  were  opened  to  their 
«ride?t  extent. 

**  On  account  of  your  position  in  life,  since  you  have 
found  a  father." 

"  0,  gammon  !  "  she  cried,  in  a  petulant  manner.  "  I'd 
rather  have  a  husband  than  a  father.  I'll  go  ten  to  ono  on 
it.     You  can't  kiss  a  guv'ner  likes  what  you  can  a  lover." 

What  could  I  do  or  say  after  such  a  blunt  speech  ?  It 
was  evident  that  she  expected  a  declaration  ;  and  was  I 
ready  to  make  one  ?  I  felt  her  breath  fan  my  cheek,  while 
her  red  lips  were  advanced  an  inch  or  two  nearer  my  own, 
and  one  of  her  hands  found  its  way  around  my  neck,  and 
the  other  rested  on  my  shoulder  ;  and  then  a  pair  of  blue 
eyes,  the  handsomest  the  world  ever  saw  (I  thought  so  at 
the  time,  and  even  at  the  present  moment  I  have  my  ideas 
on  the  subject),  were  raised  in  such  a  beseeching,  seductive 
manner,  that  all  my  self-control  vanished  in  an  instant,  and 
I  found  that  I  was  but  a  poor,  miserable  mortal,  after  all,  no 
more  capable  of  withstanding  the  blandishments  of  a  hand- 
some girl,  than  a  hungry  man  can  refuse  food  when  it  is 
offered  him.  In  an  instant  my  stout  arms  were  around  her, 
and  she  was  clasped  close  to  my  heart,  while  on  her  red  lips 
and  beautifully  formed  mouth  I  rained  down  kisses,  the  €rst 
that  I  had  ever  taken,  and  the  sweetest  that  I  ever  knew. 

At  length,  after  I  had  kissed  her  a  dozen  times  or  more, 
r  began  to  realize  what  I  was  doing  ;  therefore  was  inclined 
to  pause  ;  but  the  little  jade  nestled  closer,  and  whispered,  — 

"Don't  throw  up  the  sponge  jist  yet.  I'm  game  to  the 
ast." 

What  a  horrid  way  to  express  her  feelings,  and  to  tell  me 


A  FEW  EXPLANATIONS.  4Ss' 

that  she  was  not  tired  of  the  caresses  which  I  bestowed  upon 
her  !  But  I  was  too  much  in  love  to  think  of  her  words  just 
at  that  present  time.  I  only  thought  of  her  handsome  face, 
and  the  remarkable  change  in  her  manner.  But  all  things 
must  have  a  termination ;  and  so  at  last  Jenny  raised  her 
head  from  my  shoulder,  and  asked,  —  ■ 

*'  Do  you  love  me  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  have  loved  you  for  a  long  time,  although  I  T?as 
hardly  conscious  of  it." 

"  But  I  mean-,  do  you  love  me  as  a  wife  should  be  loved  ? " 

"  Yes." 

**  Then  you  may  have  me  ;  "  and  the  enthusiastic  young 
lady  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck,  and  put  up  her  lips  to 
be  kissed. 

"  But  you  forget  that  you  have  a  father,  who  may  enter 
his  protest  against  the  arrangement." 

*'  I  don't  care  if  he  does.  I  likes  you  better  than  I  does 
him.  If  he  ain't  satisfied  with  the  match,  he  needn't  bet  on 
it.     I  stake  everything,  and  run  all  risks.     Don't  I  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  encounter  some  risks,  for  you  have  not  been 
acquainted  with  me  more  than  two  months." 

*'  Well,  I'm  certain  thai  you  is  a  gentleman  ;  that  you'll 
treat  me  well,  and  won't  love  any  body  else  but  me." 

^  *'  And  what  will  you  do  to  insure  all  this  ? "  I  asked,  with 
ft  smile  at  her  earnestness. 

"  0,  I'll  go  in  trainin',"  was  the  prompt  answer. 

''  Do  what  ? " 

"  Why,  I'll  make  myself  worthy  of  you.*' 

"  How  ? " 

I  began  to  see  that  she  had  more  character  and  more 
feeling  than  I  gave  her  credit  for. 

She  raised  her  head  from  my  bosom,  placed  both  her 
email,  delicately  shaped  hands  on  my  shoulder,  and  said,  — 

"  You  see  I  ain't  had  no  advantages,  don't  you  r  " 

"  I  fear  that  such  has  been  the  case." 

"  You  must  see  it,  'cos  a  bar-maid  don't  know  much 
except  how  hard  most  men  drinks." 

"  But  I  think  that  most  men  drink  very  easy." 


438  1HE  BUSHEAls^GEKS. 

**  Doa't  blab  just  now,  but  just  listen  to  me  "  the  young 
girl  saii.  "  I  never  bad  any  larnin',  of  any  account,  and 
now  is  tbe  time  I  miss  it.  If  I  only  knew  ever  so  much,  I 
should  be  more  happy,  'cos  you  would  love  me  more  ;  so  if 
you  want  me,  you  must  promise  me  one  thing." 

"  I  will  promise  you  most  anything  you  ask,  Jenny." 

*'  That's  right.  Now  hear  me.  My  new  gu<^'Eer  wants  me 
to  return  to  England  with  him ;  but  I  told  him  T  souldn't, 
'cos  I  liked  you  better  than  I  did  him.  He  cried  when  he 
heard  this,  and  said  that  he'd  only  found  a  child  to  lose  one." 

"  No  wonder  he  shed  tears." 

"  Well,  you  know,  I  was  sorry  for  him,  and  I  said  so  ;  and 
I  told  him  that  I  would  do  most  anything  to  make  him 
happy ;  and  on  that,  he  again  axed  me  to  go  to  England 
Vfith  him  and  see  my  mother." 

"  And  what  answer  did  you  give  him  ?  " 

Jenny  laid  her  face  against  my  heart,  before  she  replied,  — 

'*  I  said  I'd  go,  if  he'd  take  you  too." 

"  And  what  did  Sir  William  reply  ? " 

"He  asked  me  if  you  had  spoken  to  me  about  love,  and 
all  that ;  and  if  you  had,  at  what  time." 

"  And  what  did  you  say  to  that,  eienny  ? "  and  as  I  spoke, 
I  held  the  sweet  girl  close  to  my  breast,  for  I  saw  the  drift 
of  Sir  William's  questions,  and  dreaded  her  answer.  The 
baronet  evidently  thought  that  I  was  a  fortune-hunter,  and 
had  made  love  to  his  daughter  after  the  secret  of  her  birth 
was  discovered. 

"  0,  I  told  him  that  you  had  loved  me  ever  so  long  (and 
you  have,  hain't  you  ?)  but  that  you  had  never  spoken  a  word 
about  it." 

*'  Such  an  answer,"  I  thought,  *''must  disarm  all  his  sus- 
pi'^ions." 

**  Did  I  speak  right?"  and  the  sunny  face  was  lifted  to 
mine. 

"  Quite  right,  Jenny.     But  tell  me  what  else  he  said." 
••  O,  I  don't  want  to  ; "  and  she  made  a  feeble  eSoH  to 
twist  herself  out  of  my  arms ;  but  I  held  her  fas  I,  so  that  she 
could  not  move. 


A   FEW   EXPLANATIONS.  439 

"  Tell  me,*'  I  whispered,  and  kissed  her. 

"  He  asked  me  if  I  loved  you ; "  and  the  fair  face  was 
cnce  more  buried  in  my  bosom. 

"  And  what  was  your  answer,  darling  ? " 

She  raised  her  head,  and  looked  me  full  in  the  face,  with 
her  large  blue  eyes,  so  full  of  truth  and  sincerity,  that  1 
could  not  doubt  but  that  it  was  satisfactory,  in  every  respect. 

"  What  would  you  give  to  know  ?  "  whispered  Jenny. 

"  A  kiss  ;  "  and  I  bestowed  a  hearty  one  upon  her  sweet, 
red  lips. 

"  You  won't  laugh  at  me  ?  " 

"  Not  a  smile  shall  be  seen  on  my  face.'* 

"  Well,  I  told  him  that  I  had  always  loved  you  and  hated 
you  at  the  same  time." 

She  was  serious  enough  now. 

"  I  don't  understand  you.  Explain*  to  me  how  such  feel- 
ings could  exist." 

"  Well,  when  you  first  came  to  me,  I  took  a  shine  to  you, 
and  liked  you,  till  the  old  man  said  you  was  a  perlice  spy  ; 
and  arter  that,  I  hated  you  and  loved  you  at  the  same  time. 
Now,  do  you  understand  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"And  —  and  you  love  me  a  little,  don't  you?"  and  the 
round  white  arms  were  thrown  over  my  neck,  and  that  hand- 
some face  was  pressed  close  to  mine.  What  man,  with  blood 
in  his  veins,  could  have  remained  in  a  quiescent  state,  when  so 
much  beauty  was  near  uim  ?  I  could  not ;  so  I  proved  it 
by  catching  her  in  my  arms,  and  holding  her  in  a  close  em- 
brace, until  she  begged  me  to  release  her,  for  fear  of  juf- 
focation. 

"  Then  you  do  love  me  ? "  she  whispered,  as  soon  as  sh^ 
eould  speak. 

"  Yes,  darling,  most  dearly." 

*'  And  you  don't  want  me  to  go  to  England  ?" 

"  No,  not  unless  I  go  with  you." 

"  0,  that  would  be  so  nice  !  How  happy  we  should  be  ! 
you  could  learn  me  how  to  talk,  and  lots  of  things  I  kno^f 
uotliing  about,  couldn't  you  ?  " 


440  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

I  smiled  and  nodded. 

'*  Tlien  "  —  and  the  handsome  face  assumed  a  determined 
expression  —  "I  shall  tell  my  new  giiv'ner  that  I'll  stay  here 
with  you;  and  when  you  go,  I'll  go." 

"  G-ently,  darling ;  your  father  is  a  very  proud  man,  and 
must  be  approached  with  caution.  He  is  aware  that  I  love 
ycu,  and  have  loved  you  for  some  time.  I  will  speak  to  him 
en  the  subject,  and  see  what  he  thinks.  We  must  not  let 
Llm  suppose  that  his  child  cares  nothing  for  him ;  that  would 
mortify  him  exceedingly." 

"  Well,  but  you  know  I  love  you,"  in  a  petulant  tone. 

"  I  hope  that  you  do  ;  and  to  secure  it,  I  must  win  youi 
father's  respect." 

"  I  don't  see  what  he's  got  to  do  with  it,"  pouted  Jenny. 
"  If  he  likes  me  he  must  let  me  have  my  own  way.  When 
I  tell  him  that  I  want  a  husband,  and  that  you  are  the  man  I 
have  picked  out,  he  musn't  make  any  objection.  If  he  does, 
I  shan't  love  him." 

"  Be  governed  by  me  in  this  matter,"  I  whispered,  and 
kissed  away  the  frown  that  was  gathering  on  her  brow;  for 
I  may  as  well  own  it.  Miss  Jenny  had  a  will  and  temper  of 
her  own,  having  been  unchecked  all  through  her  childhood. 

*'  I  wiU ;  but  remember,  I'm  not  to  leave  you.  If  they 
offer  to  send  me  to  England  without  you,  there'll  be  a  row, 
and  a  jolly  one  at  that,  I  can  tell  you." 

I  soothed  her  in  the  best  manner  possible,  and  at  last 
obtained  her  consent  to  remain  passive  for  the  present,  oi 
until  I  could  sound  Sir  William  on  the  subject  that  was 
nearest  my  heart.  I  had  but  half  accomplished  my  purpose, 
when  Sir  William  entered  the  hut,  after  his  long  conversar- 
tion  with  the  inspector. 

"  You  here  ? "  he  asked,  in  a  tone  of  some  little  surprise, 
when  his  eyes  fell  upon  me. 

'Yes,  I  have  been  conversing  with  Miss  Jenny,"  I 
answered. 

"Indeed." 

The  baronet's  face  expressed  a  little  annoyance.  Jenny 
telegraphed  me  with  her  blue  eyes  to  communicate  the  sub. 


A  TABLEAU.  44  \ 

ject  nearest  to  my  heart ;  but  I  signalized  her  to  bo  silent 
for  a  while. 

"  1  suppose  the  poor  child  is  tired,  and  desires  to  retire," 
faintei  Sir  William.  "Her  accommodations  are  not  on  3 
very  grand  scale,  nor  such  as  a  baronet's  child  should  have, 
but  I  think  she  can  endure  them  for  one  night.  Here,  my 
poor  child,  let  me  overhaul  this  straw,  and  see  that  no  insects 
ars  concealed  in  it." 

As  he  spoke,  he  took  the  candle  from  the  table,  and 
approached  the  straw,  where  the  youiig  lady  had  made  hei 
bed  for  several  nights  past.  According  to  all  rules  of  good 
breeding,  I  should  at  that  moment  have  retired  from  the  hut. 
and  closed  the  door,  so  that  the  father  and  daughter  could 
have  been  together,  and  exchanged  such  confidences  as  they 
pleased  ;  but  somehow,  I  was  forced  in  a  measure  to  remain 
where  I  was,  although  I  could  not  account  for  the  circum- 
stances. I  knew  that  I  was  offending,  but  I  silenced  all 
scruples  by  attributing  my  feelings  to  love  for  the  handsome 
young  lady,  who  was  holding  the  candle  while  her  father 
stirred  up  the  straw.  Suddenly  the  baronet  uttered  a  star- 
tling exclamation,  and  jumped  back ;  and  as  he  did  so,  I  saw, 
by  the  aid  of  the  light,  a  glittering- coated,  hissing  littlo 
snake  "dart  through  the  air  and  strike  for  one  of  the  fair, 
round  arms  of  Miss  Jenny.  Heavens !  how  the  blood 
rushed  to  my  heart,  and  then  receded,  leaving  me  faint  and 
cold,  with  the  perspiration  oozing  from  every  pore  of  my 
body,  so  great  was  the  shock  to  my  system  ;  for,  as  I  looked, 
I  saw  the  snake,  a  reptile  not  more  than  ten  inches  long, 
with  spots  on  its  back  and  sides,  of  a  bright  orange  color, 
while  its  belly  was  of  a  creamy  white,  fasten  upon  the  deli- 
cate arm,  and  then  endeavor  to  enfold  it  in  its  embrace. 
The  brave  girl  uttered  a  piercing  shriek,  and  turned  as  pale 
as  death ;  but  still  she  did  not  drop  the  candle,  nor  faint,  as 
many  young  ladies  would  have  done.  After  she  uttered  the 
one  shriek,  she  turned  her  eyes  on  me,  and  murmured,  — 

*'  Save  me,  if  you  love  me  •  '' 

That  appeal  restored  me  to  my  senses,  and  ones  mor^ 
tendered  me  firm  and  determined. 


442  THE  BUSHRANGEBS. 

CHAPTER  LXVn. 

A   LIFE    FOK    A   LIFE. 

As  far  as  Sir  William  was  concerned,  from  the  time  that 
he  saw  the  snake,  until  it  darted  from  the  straw  and  seized 
upon  the  arm  of  his  child,  he  had  displayed  a  most  shocking 
want  of  presence  of  mind  ;  for  he  could  only  clasp  his  hands 
and  tremble  while  he  looked,  not  moving  one  step  to  kill  the 
reptile  and  save  the  child.  "With  no  thought  for  myself,  I 
rushed  forward,  seized  the  little  reptile  near  its  neck,  tore  it 
from  the  arm  upon  which  it  had  fastened,  and  then  dashed 
it  upon  the  floor  of  the  hut,  and  ground  it  to  pieces  with  the 
heel  of  my  boot ;  and  not  until  the  last  quiver  left  the  snake's 
body  did  I  turn  to  Jenny,  and  just  in  time  to  catch  her  in 
my  arms,  for  she  had  fainted. 

"  My  poor  child,"  moaned  the  baronet ;  "  she  is  dead, 
she  is  dead !    Give  her  to  me." 

I  did  not  notice  the  arms  which  were  outstretched  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  the  young  girl. 

"  Man,"  I  said,  looking  up  for  a  moment,  and  speaking 
slow  and  determined,  *'  if  you  would  save  your  child,  do  a^ 
T  bid  you." 

*'  Yes,  yes,  I'll  do  anything/ 

"  Quick,  then,  bring  me  a  bottle  of  brandy,  which  you 
rill  find  on  the  table  in  the  other  room.    No  words,  but  go." 

Sir  William  hurried  from  the  apartment,  and  while  he  was 
gone  I  tore  a  handkerchief  from  Jenny's  neck,  fastened  it 
just  above  where  the  snake  had  inflicted  its  poisonous  bite, 
tying  it  so  tight  that  the  blood  could  not  circulate  in  the  arm, 
causing  the  poor  child  to  moan,  even  in  her  death-like  faint, 
and  almost  unmannincj  me  for  the  task  which  I  knew  was 
before  me.  By  the  time  this  was  completed.  Sir  William 
had  returned  with  the  bottle  of  liquor.  As  he  handed  it 
to  me,  I  caught  a  brief  glance  at  his  face.  It  was  pals 
IS  death. 


A  LIFE  FOK  A  LIFE.  44^ 

"  Can  you  save  her  ? "  the  unhappy  fatlier  demande  L 

"  Heaven  has  her  in  its  keeping,"  I  answered,  in  a  solemn 
tone.     "  We  will  hope  for  the  best." 

I  poured  a  few  spoonfuls  of  the  liquor  through  tlie  clinched 
teeth  of  the  girl,  and  it  was  so  strong  that  it  caused  her  to 
gasp  for  breath,  and  show  signs  of  reviving.  Then  I  ex- 
amined the  wound  in  the  arm ;  and  I  looked  at  it  most 
anxiously,  and  with  a  heart  full  of  apprehension.  There 
were  the  marks  of  two  small  teeth,  perforations  not  larger 
than  the  point  of  a  darning-needle,  red  spots  that  would 
hardly  have  been  noticed  were  it  not  for  the  swelling  just 
around  them  —  a  swelling  that  seemed  to  grow  larger  and 
larger  each  moment,  and  to  turn  black  as  they  increased 
in  size.  Heavens,  what  agony  I  experienced,  as  I  looked 
at  the  fair  round  arm,  so  soon  to  be  drawn  out  of  all  shape, 
and  become  a  bloated  mass  of  corruption !  for  the  girl 
had  been  bitten  by  one  of  the  most  poisonous  reptiles  in 
Australia.  There  was  but  one  way  to  save  her,  or  rather  to 
attempt  to  save  her,  for  without  assistance  death  was  certain 
In  less  than  an  hour's  time.  But  if  I  saved  her  life,  I  run 
some  risk  of  losing  my  own ;  for  I  encountered  much  dan- 
ger in  showing  my  devotion. 

"Can  she  be  saved?"  gasped  the  baronet.  "Do  give 
me  some  hope." 

"  Hold  the  candle  for  one  moment,"  I  replied.  "  If  she 
is  to  be  saved,  time  must  not  be  lost." 

He  took  the  light  with  a  trembling  hand,  but  did  not 
remove  his  eyes  from  the  pale  face  of  his  insensible  child. 
Hastily  I  swallowed  a  mouthful  of  brandy,  and  then  with  a 
hope  that  Heaven  would  support  me,  and  save  us  both,  I 
applied  my  lips  to  the  wound.  Sir  "William  uttered  an  ex- 
clamation of  astonishment.  He  now  began  to  comprehend 
me^  and  to  understand  how  much  I  was  willing  to  sacrifice 
for  the  sake  of  his  child.  I  pressed  my  lips  firmly  to  the 
spot  where  the  snake  had  inserted  its  teeth,  and  then 
attempted  to  suck  the  poison  from  the  wound.  Every 
moment  or  two  I  would  cease  my  labors  and  eject  the  saliva 
5ft)m  my   mouth.     I   forced   more  liquor    down   the  girl'? 


144  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

throat,  and  at  last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her  open 
her  eyes. 

"What  has  happened  ?"  she  demanded.  "Have  I  been 
dreaming  ?" 

"  Drink,"  I  said,  and  placed  the  liquor  to  her  lips. 

"  It  scalds  my  mouth,"  she  replied. 

"  I  am  sorry,  but  you  must  drink." 

"  For  what  reason  ?  " 

I  could  not  tell  her ;  but  I  pressed  her  in  my  ariu,!,  and 
let  a  tear  drop  on  her  face. 

She  looked  up  in  a  startled  manner. 

"  Ah,  now  I  remember,"  she  cried  ;  and  a  shudder  passed 
through  her  frame.     "  I  shall  die." 

'*  No,  dear,  you  must  live  for  your  father's  sake." 

"  I  had  rather  live  for  yours,"  she  replied. 

Sir  William  uttered  a  sob  ;  but  the  girl  did  not  heed  him. 

"  I  don't  like  to  die  yet,  when  I  have  learned  to  like 
you,  and  to  expect  your  love  in  return.  0,  I  cannot  give 
you  up." 

"  Courage,  darling.  I  hope  there  will  be  no  occasion  tc 
despair.  Swallow  the  liquor,  and  attempt  to  compose  your 
feelings." 

She  took  a  deep  drink  of  the  strong  brandy,  and  then 
closed  her  eyes.  In  the  mean  time  I  stole  a  look  at  the 
wound  on  her  arm,  which  I  had  kept  wet  with  the  liquor. 
To  my  intense  joy,  I  saw  that  the  swelling  had  not  in- 
creased ;  that  it  was  not  near  so  black  as  when  I  had  first 
attempted  to  suck  the  poison  out  of  the  bite.  From  that 
moment  a  feeling  of  hope  arose  in  my  heart,  and  encouraged 
mo  to  persevere. 

In  a  few  minutes  Murden  and  Mr.  Brown,  who  had  been 
informed  cf  Jenny's  accident,  entered.  Their  faces  were 
full  of  anxiety  and  trouble,  for  they  feared  the  worst. 

".For  God's  sake,  what  does  all  this  mean  ? "  demanded 
the  commissioner,  kneeling  by  the  girl's  side,  and  taking  one 
of  her  little  hands,  on  which  sparkled  two  or  three  diamond 
rings,  reminding  one  of  the  vanities  of  this  world,  and  th€ 
uncertainties  of  the  next. 


A  LIFE  FOB  A  LIFE.  445 

1  iuformed  him  in  a  few  words. 

•*  But  why  was  I  not  told  of  this  as  soon  as  it  occurred  ? " 
Mr.  Brown  asked,  in  an  excited  manner. 

I  pointed  to  the  remains  of  the  snake,  which  had  boeu 
gathered  up,  and  were  lying  in  a  heap  in  one  corner  of  the 
room.  The  commissioner  shuddered  as  he  looked,  then 
eagerly  felt  of  the  girl's  pulse. 

"  It  is  the  most  venomous  snake  in  the  country,"  ^'^whis- 
pered ;  "  yet  she  is  alive." 

«  Yes." 

The  commissioner  appeared  more  and  more  astonished. 

**  I  will  send  an  express  to  Bendigo  for  a  physician.  We 
must  save  her." 

He  started  up  to  despatch  one  of  the  most  trusty  men  and 
fleetest  horses,  but  I-detained  him. 

"  It  would  consume  twenty-four  hours  to  obtain  a  physi- 
cian from  the  city,"  I  remarked. 

"  WeU,  what  of  it  ?  " 

"  Only  this,"  I  whispered  in  his  ear ;  "  she  will  be  out  of 
danger,  or  death  will  ensue  long  before  that  time." 

"  True  ;  I  had  forgotten  the  nature  of  the  reptile." 

He  examined  the  arm  long  and  earnestly,  and  then  glanced 
up  with  an  assuring  face. 

"  There  ain't  the  least  trace  of  poison  here,"  he  said. 

"  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  say  that  again  !  "  cried  the  bar- 
onet, springing  forward,  and  placing  a  hand  on  the  officer's 
shoulder. 

"  I  repeat  it ;  there  ain't  the  least  sign  of  poison  here  !  " 
Mr.  Brown  cried  in  a  positive  manner. 

"  What  do  you  judge  from  ?  How  do  you  know  ? "  I 
ahked,  trembling  with  hope,  for  I  thought  considerable  of 
Mr.  Brown's  judgment. 

"  In  the  first  place,  I've  seen  several  people  after  they 
were  bitten  by  these  pests  of  the  bushes  —  more  dangerous 
than  escaped  convicts,  and  more  efficient  in  keeping  the  raaks 
of  the  latter  thin,  than  all  the  poli3emen  of  Melbourne." 

"  Or  Bendigo,"  echoed  MurdeL,  who  thought  that  a  re* 
ftection  was  int3nded. 


446  THE  BUSHRANGEKS. 

Mr.  Brown  did  not  notice  the  interruption.  Ife  con^ 
tinned  :  "  I've  seen  men,  after  they  were  bitten  by  thosa 
spotted  devils,  swell  up  until  they  nearly  burst.  I  have 
also  taken  particular  notice  of  the  wounds  made  b^;  the  teeth, 
and  I  never  saw  one  that  looked  like  this  —  never." 

He  held  the  candle  close  to  the  white  arm,  and  lo,  and 
behold,  there  was  not  a  particle  of  swelling  to  b?  seen;  the 
inflammation  had  left,  and  the  black  blood  had  disappeared. 
Sir  William  uttered  a  cry  of  joy,  and  then  threw  himself  o« 
his  knees  by  the  side  of  his  daughter. 

"  Darling  !  "  he  cried ;  "  do  you  know  me  ?  Do  you  feel 
any  pain  ?     Speak  to  me." 

Jenny  turned  her  eyes,  now  wearing  a  peculiar  look,  upon 
the  baronet,  made  an  effort  to  speak,  but  no  sound  issued 
from  her  lips.  So  once  more  she  closed  her  eyes,  and  only 
by  her  slight  breathing  did  we  know  that  she  was  alive. 

"  0,  my  God  ! "  exclaimed  the  distracted  father ;  "  to 
think  that  I  should  find  her  only  to  lose  her.  Speak  to  me, 
my  child  —  only  a  word  to  say  that  you  love  me." 

It  was  with  much  difficulty  that  Jenny  managed  to  open 
her  eyes  ;  but  they  were  void  of  expression,  and  glassy ; 
not  radiant  with  looks  of  love  and  happiness.  For  one  mo- 
ment she  allowed  her  glance  to  rest  on  our  faces  ;  then,  with 
a  hiccough  and  a  sigh,  she  said,  — 

"  Don't  bother  me  —  let  me  a-1-o-n-e." 

*'  She's  dying !  "  and  the  baronet  wrung  his  hands  as  he 
uttered  the  words. 

I  bowed  my  head,  and  attempted  to  conceal  the  scalding 
tears  that  fell  from  my  eyes.  Never  had  I  loved  Jenny  so 
well  as  at  that  moment,  when  I  was  like  to  lose  her  for- 
ever. Guided  by  impulse  I  could  not  control,  I  pressed  rcy 
lips  to  the  young  girl's  ;  but  as  I  raised  my  head,  expecting 
to  hear  an  indignant  exclamation  from  Sir  William,  I  noticed 
that  Jaukson  had  seized  the  bottle  containing  the  brandy, 
and  was  in  one  corner  of  the  hut,  pouring  it  down  his  throat 
with  wonderful  gusto  and  rapidity ;  delighted  to  think  that 
ao  ooe  was  interfering  with  his  actions.     I  was  about  to  caU 


A  LIFB   FOR  A  LIF2.  447 

Murden's  attention  to  the  matter,  when  Jenny  nestled  in  m^ 
arms,  and  murmured,  interrupted  with  many  a  hiccough, — 

"  Close  the  Red  Lion  ;  it's  time  to  go  to  bed.  You  get  no 
more  svipesh-e-r-e  ;  now  I  tell  you;  so  start  your  stumps." 
I  Mr.  Brown  had  the  cruelty  to  laugh  at  this  incoherent 
speech.  I  gave  him  a  glance  that  I  meant  should  freeze  his 
soul,  and  compel  him  to  ask  a  thousand  pardons  for  his  in- 
discretions ;  but,  to  my  surprise,  the  man  did  not  seem  to 
be  any  the  less  jolly  than  before  I  looked  at  him.  He  stooped 
down  and  put  his  hand  on  Jenny's  pulse,  and  for  a  moment 
felt  its  beating.     Then  he  asked,  — 

"  How  much  brandy  did  you  pour  down  the  lady's  throat  ?  " 

"  About  two  thirds  of  a  tumbler  full,"  was  my  quiet  answer. 

"  Humph  !  not  even  a  giant  could  carry  such  a  load.  The 
girl  is  not  dead  in  one  sense,  but  she  is  dead  drunk  in 
another." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  we  all  asked,  surprised  and  in- 
dignant. 

"  Just  what  I  say.  There  is  no  poison  in  her  system,  and 
consequently  the  liquor  has  acted  on  her  brain,  and  intoxi- 
cated her.  Or  else  the  brandy  counteracted  the  poison,  and 
then  seized  upon  the  blood,  and  is  feeding  on  it.  x\t  any 
rate,  the  result  is  intoxication.  I  don't  understand  the 
thing ;  but  be  assured  there  is  no  longer  any  danger.  If  the 
poison  remained  in  her  system,  the  brandy  would  not  have 
affected  her  in  the  least.  I've  seen  it  tried  in  the  bush  at 
least  a  dozen  times,  and  never  knew  it  to  fail." 

"  Perhaps  we  owe  her  life  to  this  young  man,  after  all," 
Sir  William  said,  assuming  a  composure  he  hardly  felt. 

"  You  certainly  do,  if  he  gave  her  the  liquor,"  muttered 
Mr.  Brown. 

''  No,  not  on  that  account ;  for  before  the  brandy  ^as  ad- 
ministered, he  applied  his  lips  to  the  wound,  and  attempted 
to  extract  the  poison." 

"  And  he  did  it ! "  cried  Mr.  Brown,  with  enthusiasm ; 
**  although  I  would  not  have  risked  it.  However,  he  loves 
the  girl,  I  suppoee,  and  was  willing  to  sacrifice  bis  life  to 
save  hers.     If  he  escapes,  he  deserves  her." 


448  THE  BUSHRAJIGERS. 

"Take  yer  noise  out  of  the  Bed  Lion,"  muttered  Jenny, 
who  seemed  to  be  dreaming  of  her  bar-maid  days. 

Sir  William  did  not  reply  to  this  blunt  speech ;  but  I  sa-w 
that  he  was  in  a  reflecting  mood. 

"  Come,"  said  Mr.  Brown,  after  a  moment's  silence,  "  make 
up  the  girl's  bed,  and  let  us  leave  her  alone.  She  will  come 
out  all  right  by  morning." 

As  the  advice  was  sensible,  —  for  it  was  now  evident  to  all 
flf  us  that  Jenny  was  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and 
therefore  needed  rest,  —  we  spread  some  blankets  on  the 
straw  and  made  as  comfortable  a  bed  as  possible.  When  we 
had  prepared  everything,  and  were  ready  to  leave  the  hut,  Sir 
William  said  that  he  would  remain  and  watch  by  the  side  of 
his  child  all  night,  and  let  us  know  if  there  was  any  change 
for  better  or  worse. 


CHAPTER   LXVin. 

A    PKIVATE    CONFERENCE. A    PLAIN    TALK. A    STERN 

REFUSAL. 

»  Upon  awaking  at  daylight  I  saw  Sir  William  standing 
over  me.  I  thought  that  Jenny  was  worse,  so  sprang  to  my 
feet,  anxious  and  trembling. 

"  She  is  dead,"  I  said,  thinking  of  the  snake  bite,  and 
the  condition  in  which  I  had  left  her  the  night  before. 

"  No,  my  friend,  she  is  safe.  She  is  out  of  all  danger,  and 
now  sleeping  off  the  effects  of  the  liquor  which  she  imbibed. 
Come  with  me.  I  wish  to  talk  with  you  before  breakfast, 
and  on  matters  of  importance.     Can  you  spare  the  time?" 

'*  Certainly,  sir." 

I  shook  myself  free  of  the  blankets,  and  arose  ;  following 
the  baronet  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where  we  could  con- 
verse free  of  interruption. 

"  Sii  down,"  he  said.     "  We  may  as  well  be  at  our  ease." 

Dow^n  we  sat  on  some  dried  grass,  first  stirring  the  ground, 
«o  that  we  should  not  sit  on  an  s-ntiill;  and  then  I  awaited 


A  PRIVATE  CONFERENCE.  449 

jLe  communication  whicli  the  baronet  had  tt-  make.  It  'was 
some  time  before  he  uttered  a  word ;  but  at  last  he  turned  m 
me,  and  said,  in  a  most  abrupt  manner,  — 

"  You  love  my  daughter,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  How  long  has  this  passion  lasted  ?  " 

I  thought  I  detected  a  sneer  in  the  tone  in  which  the  que?  • 
tion  was  asked ;  so  I  continued :  — 

"  Ever  since  she  was  a  bar-maid  at  the  Red  Lion." 

The  baronet,  proud  of  his  name,  his  wealth,  and  position 
in  life,  felt  the  shot  that  I  had  directed,  and  it  made  him 
quiver  and  flush  like  a  newly-fledged  lawyer  rebuked  by 
the  bench  for  indulging  in  flights  of  fancy  not  in  accordance 
with  the  rules  of  the  court. 

There  was  another  pause.  The  baronet  appeared  to  be 
concentrating  for  an  attack.     At  last  he  opened  his  battery. 

"  Have  you  spoken  to  the  young  lady  on  the  subject  thai 
is  so  near  your  heart  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  May  I  inquire  when  such  conversation  ensued  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  As  her  father,  I  have  no  wish  to  conceal 
anything  from  you." 

Sir  William  bowed,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  That  is  quite  right 
and  proper."     I  continued  :  — 

"  Last  evening,  when  the  lady  was  rescued  from  a  most 
perilous  position,  and  fell  into  my  arms.  After  she  revived, 
fihe  spoke  her  sentiments  quite  plainly,  and  I  replied  to  hei 
ct  some  length." 

"  And  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  me  the  gist  cf 
your  reply  ? " 

"  Certainly.  I  said  that  she  had  a  father  who  must  be 
consulted  on  all  that  related  to  her  welfare." 

"  Very  proper  language.     What  was  her  answer  to  that  ?  " 

I  looked  at  the  man  for  a  moment,  and  saw  that  he  had 
assumed  a  manner  that  was  offensive  in  the  extreme.  In  an 
instant  all  my  pride  was  aroused,  and  I  determined  to  pay 
him  bask  scorn  for  scorn. 

**  You  will  excuse  me,   Sir  William,"  I  returned,  "if  I 

30 


450  THE  BUSHRAJSTGERS. 

decline  to  answer  siiSb.  direct  questions.  The  lady  has  re« 
posed  some  little  confidence  in  me,  and  I  am  not  the  person 
to  violate  it." 

I  saw  an  angry  flush  mantle  his  brow ;  but  he  did  not 
burst  out  in  a  torrent  of  passionate  reproaches,  as  I  expected 
he  would.  He  had  a  purpose  to  accomplish,  and  he  kept  it 
m  view. 

"  Of  course,  when  you  spoke  to  the  honored  scion  of  the 
douse  of  Byefield,  you  knew  that  she  was  an  heiress  ?  " 

This  made  me  mad.     I  could  not  contain  myself. 

"The  honored  fiddlestick,"  I  replied.  "  The  young  lady 
is  charming,  illiterate,  brought  up  in  the  most  menial  of  em- 
ployments, and  has  no  more  idea  of  your  position  in  society 
than  a  bushranger.  Do  you  suppose  that  I  would  marry 
her  for  your  money,  or  that  I  would  take  her  at  any  rate 
unless  I  thought  I  could  improve  her  mind.  Limited  as 
my  sphere  is  in  the  world,  I  should  blush  to  ask  your  child 
to  enter  it  unless  she  would  resolve  to  learn  new  habits  and 
ideas." 

"  But  you  are  willing  to  admit  that  the  lady  is  capable 
of  great  improvement  under  proper  training  and  discipline  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  She  has  a  strong  and  active  mind,  and 
would  apply  herself  to  learning  with  remarkable  enthu- 
siasm, after  she  once  saw  the  necessity  for  it." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  admit  so  much.  Now  for  my  con- 
clusions. She  is  the  heiress  of  an  old  and  honored  house  ; 
yet,  in  her  present  state,  she  would  do  neither  me  nor  my 
wife  much  credit  if  we  should  introduce  her  to  the  circle 
which  she  is  destined  to  adorn.  Two  years  of  careful  in- 
struction would  give  her  such  advantages  that  any  nobleman 
in  the  land  would  be  glad  to  aspire  to  her  hand." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it,"  in  a  cold,  calm  manner. 

"  Well,  such  being  the  case,  do  you  not  think  it  would  be 
folly  on  her  part  to  bestow  her  hand  on  you?  —  a  fine,  gen- 
erous fellow  I  admit,  but  still  not  her  equal  in  position  or 
fortune.     Come,  answer  me  frankly." 

"  I  will,  as  frankly  as  you  have  spoken  ;  and  I  hope  thai 
70U  will  not  be  offended  if  I.  talk  rather  plainly." 


A  PRIVATL   CONFERENCE.  4  51 

"  Of  course  not." 

"  Well,  then,  let  me  revert  to  yours  slf,  and  contrast  youi 
position  with  mine,  and  see  which  deserves  the  most  praise 
for  character.  You  were  born  to  inherit  a  title  and  a  for- 
tune, were  you  not  ?  " 

"  Certainly.     The  Byefields  came  in  with  William  the  —  " 

"  Never  mind  particulars.  Being  placed  in  so  favorable 
ft  position,  you  had  the  advantages  of  wealth  to  secure  an 
education." 

'*  Of  course.     I  went  to  Cambridge." 

I  did  not  heed  the  interruption,  but  continued :  — 

'*  I  had  .no  great  advantages  of  wealth,  and  spent  but  a 
year  at  Harvard  College.  To  pay  for  the  same,  I  earned 
money  in  various  ways  ;  yet  after  I  left  college,  I  did  not 
disgrace  my  name,  and  that  of  my  family,  in  the  way  you  did." 

The  baronet  almost  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  his  eyes  flashed 
fire,  so  indignant  was  he. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insult  me  ?  "  he  demanded,  in  a  voice 
that  trembled  with  rage. 

*'  Such  was  not,  and  is  not,  my  intention,"  I  returned,  in 
so  calm  a  manner  that  the  baronet  resumed  his  seat,  and 
apparently  made  up  his  mind  to  hear  me. 

"  Listen  to  me  patiently,"  I  said.  "  You  have  had  your 
say;  now  give  me  mine.  I  intend  to  prove  to  you  that  an 
American  sovereign  is  fully  equal  in  position,  if  not  the 
superior  in  some  respects,  to  an  English  baronet." 

Sir  William  drew  a  long  breath,  and  motioned  for  me  to 
go  on.  I  should  have  continued  to  speak  my  thoughts  with- 
out such  encouragement,  for  I  had  got  started,  and  was 
bound  to  free  my  mind,  at  all  events. 

"  Yes,"  I  resumed,  "  I  worked  hard  for  a  livelihood 
from  the  time  that  I  was  able  to  work,  until  within  a  few 
years ;  and  during  that  period  I  committed  no  act  that  my 
ancestors  would  have  disapproved  of,  could  they  have  been 
allowed  to  revisit  the  earth,  and  take  part  in  the  afl'airs  of 
life.     But  how  was  it  with  you  ? " 

Sir  William  looked  as  much  as  to  say,  "  Whst  the  devil  is 
He  driving  at  now  ? " 


«52  THE    BUSHRANGERS. 

**  Yes,  while  I  was  striving  for  an  honorable  position,  you 
were  doing  all  in  your  power  to  obtain  an  infamous  reputa- 
tion. The  lowest  characters  in  London  were  your  common 
associates ;  and  you  ate,  and  feasted,  and  rioted  with  prize- 
fighters, dog-fanciers,  horse-jockeys,  giving  no  heed  to  the 
position  to  which  you  had  been  born.  Come,  tell  me  which 
has  the  best  record  to  show,  as  far  as  youth  is  concerned." 

"You  don't  understand  that  my  position  —  " 

"  I  understand  all  that  you  would  say  on  the  point.  Pray 
let  me  continue  to  the  close." 

"  Your  argument  is  not  a  good  one ;  but  go  on ;  I  will  not 
interrupt  you.     My  money  —  " 

"  Can  your  money  secure  exemption  from  just  censure  for 
crime  ?  or  can  your  title  protect  you,  and  make  virtues  out 
of  vices  ?  Poor  as  I  have  been,  I  never  yet  stooped  to  the 
company  of  a  prize-fighter." 

"  But  you  associate  with  police  officers,  and  think  nothing 
of  shootino^  a  bushranp-er." 

The  baronet  thought  that  he  had  hit  me  hard ;  but  I  did 
not  think  so,  and  thus  answered  him  :  — 

"  The  police  officers  of  Victoria  are  a  bold,  independent 
corps  of  men,  honorable  in  most  respects,  risking  their  lives 
for  the  sake  of  freeing  the  country  of  dangerous  characters, 
never  hesitating  to  relieve  when  they  see  distress,  and  always 
ready  to  assist  women  in  their  peril.  Such  are  the  men 
with  whom  I  associate ;  and  I  leave  it  to  you  to  say  whether 
they  are  not  superior  to  such  vile  brutes  as  the  Pet,  whom 
you  made  a  companion  of." 

The  man  winced  a  little  when  I  mentioned  the  promptness 
mih.  which  the  commissioner  and  his  men  avenged  injuries 
inflicted  upon  women.  He  knew  that  the  night  before,  IMad 
Dick  had  fallen  by  Murden's  hand,  because  the  bushranger 
had  offered  violence  to  Miss  Jenny;  but,  Englishman-like, 
he  was  not  disposed  to  give  credit  to  any  one  for  a  noble 
act,  now  that  he  was  in  an  argumentative  mood. 

"  But  you  don't  understand  that  the  customs  of  Great 
Britain  sanction  a  little  wildness  on  the  part  of  a  rich 
youiig  man." 


A    PLAIN  TALK.  4o3 

**  Yes,  I  understand  all  that,  but  must  contend  that  the 
man  who  would  turn  tj  prize-fighters,  instead  of  intellectual 
training,  must  be  incapable  of  sound  judgment  and  moral 
observation." 

Thunder  !  how  mad  the  man  was  !  He  sprang  to  his  feet, 
his  face  expressive  of  the  utmost  rage ;  but  all  such  mani- 
festations did  not  alarm  me  in  the  least.  I  had  determined 
to  prove  to  him  that  I  could  return  scorn  for  scorn,  insult 
for  insult;  conciliation,  I  found,  only  placed  me  in  a  false 
light,  and  gave  the  baronet  a  pretence  for  trampling  on  me. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  deliberately  insult  me  ?  "  the  baronet 
asked,  as  soon  as  he  could  recover  his  breath. 

"  No,  I  wish  to  speak  plain  with  you." 

"  Devilish  plain  you  have  spoken,  I  must  say,"  muttered 
Sir  William.  "  You  mean  that  I  shall  understand  you,  at 
all  events." 

"  You  have  spoken  your  mind,  and  why  should  I  not  do 
the  same  ?  This  interview  would  have  amounted  to  nothing 
unless  we  understood  each  other." 

"  Do  we  now  comprehend  each  other's  meaning  ?"  asked 
Sir  William,  in  a  tone  which  showed  that  he  desired  to  be 
comprehended. 

"  I  think  we  do." 

"  Please  to  name  some  of  the  important  points  we  have 
touched  upon." 

"  Certainly  ;  it  is  best  we  understand  each  other.  In  the 
first  place,  you  do  not  think  it  any  honor  for  me  to  unite  my 
fate  with  your  newly-found  daughter." 

Sir  William  bowed. 

"Because  you  desire  that  she  shall  contract  a  marriage 
with  her  equal,  or  a  superior." 

"  Yes,  such  is  my  intention  at  the  present  time." 

"  And  you  do  not  intend  to  let  her  have  a  voice  in  thfl 
premises  ? " 

"  She  does  not  know  her  own  mind." 
I  think  that  she  does,  and  that  you  will  find  it  out  before 
many  days." 

"  But  I  trust  that  vou  will  do  nothinej  to  incite  her  to 
Aisobey  my  commands." 


454  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  Sir  William,"  I  replied,  *'  I  am  a  gentleman,  ani  .eves 
tssociated  with  members  of  the  prize-ring." 

I  thought  for  a  moment  that  he  would  seek  to  punish  me 
for  the  speech  ;  but  he  choked  down  his  rage,  and  said, — 

"  I  pardon  all  your  rudeness  on  account  of  the  treatment 
which  you  extended  towards  my  daughter." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  have  a  memory,"  I  replied.  '*  During 
our  conversation  I  thought  that  you  had  lost  all  that  you 
ever  possessed." 

**  No,  sir ;  I  know  how  to  be  grateful,  as  you  shall  dis- 
cover. I  have  money,  and  will  reward  you  for  all  that  you 
have  done." 

**  Keep  your  money,"  I  returned,  with  such  a  gesture  of 
contempt  that  the  baronet  actually  blushed,  and  looked  un- 
comfortable. *'  I  have  no  desire  for  any  part  of  it.  I  have 
more  than  I  know  what  to  do  with." 

"  But  I  wish  to  show  you  gratitude  for  the  care  you  have 
taken  of  my  daughter.  Kemember,  last  night  you  risked 
your  life  for  hers." 

"  And  would  again,  because  such  is  my  nature  ;  but  don't 
talk  to  me  of  your  gratitude,  for  you  don't  know  what  it 
means." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  I  still  remained  on  the 
grass,  plucking  it  up  by  the  roots,  and  throwing  it  into  little 
piles,  while  Sir  William  was  on  his  feet,  stamping  about  im- 
patiently, and  evidently  desirous  that  the  interview  should 
terminate,  for  he  had  played  his  best  card,  and  felt  that  he 
had  lost  the  game  ;  that  he  had  not  satisfied  himself  or  my 
honor  by  the  words  which  he  had  uttered.  At  last  the  bar- 
onet turned  his  back  upon  me,  walked  off  a  dozen  steps  or 
so,  and  then  returned  to  my  side,  as  though  one  more  effort 
was  to  be  made  to  appease  my  wounded  pride. 

"  Let  me  ask  you  to  pledge  your  word  that  you  will  make 
no  attempts  to  hold  converse  with  my  daughter,  unless  with 
my  consent.  Do  this,  and  I  will  part  with  you  as  one  of  my 
best  friends." 

"  I  make  no  promises  to  a  man  who  has  changed  so  much 
RH  you  have  within   the   last  twenty-four   hours.      I   rbaU 


A   PLA.IN   TALK.  455 

neither  seek  nor  avoid  your  daiighte-.  If  she  comes  near 
me,  I  will  talk  with  her,  and  tell  her  v^hjl  am  so  apparently 
indifferent  to  her  charms.  It  is  but  right  that  I  should  do 
this,  after  what  has  passed  between  us." 

*'  Let  me  beg  you  to  assume  all  the  blame  —  to  tell  her 
that  you  don't  care  so  much  for  her  as  you  did  a  few  days 
fiace." 

"  I  shan't  do  any  such  thing.  I  won't  lie  to  her  to  pleasfi 
you  or  any  other  person." 

"  But  consider,  my  dear  sir,  how  hard  it  is  to  lose  a 
daughter's  love  after  you  have  gained  it  —  after  you  haTe 
been  years  without  it." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  I  replied  ;  "  it  is  not  near  so  hard  to  lose 
as  a  lover's.     Your  sacrifice  is  nothing  compared  to  mine." 

The  baronet  turned  away  from  me  impatiently,  and  walked 
towards  the  camp.  I  followed  at  my  leisure,  but  encoun- 
tered Murden  and  Brown,  who  had  seen  me  with  the  bar- 
onet, and  suspected  what  our  conversation  had  been  about. 
As  Sir  William  entered  the  hut  where  Jenny  was  housed, 
the  two  officers  fastened  upon  me. 

"  Is  it  all  settled  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Brown.  "  When  is  the 
wedding  to  take  place  ?     Give  me  an  invite,  won't  you  ? " 

"If  you  get  her,"  said  the  worldly-minded  Mr.  Murden, 
"  \t  will  be  a  great  lift  to  you  in  the  social  scale." 

"  Social  fiddlestick  !  "  ejaculated  the  blunt  Bendigo  police- 
man. "  Isn't  he  as  good  as  she  is,  for  all  of  her  blood  and 
beauty  ? " 

"  But  still  you  know  she  has  rank  through  her  father  and 
mother,"  urged  the  commissioner. 

"  Well,  how  did  she  rank  before  Sir  William  picked  ier 
2p  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Brown. 

"  Rather  low,"  was  the  honest  confession. 

*'  And  if  our  friend  had  married  her,  not  knowing  but 
that  the  Pet  was  her  governor,  what  should  you  have  said  ?" 

"  That  he  had  made  an  ass  of  himself." 

"  Plainly ;  and  I  should  have  said  the  same,  and  I  don't 
know  as  I  shall  alter  my  opinion  even  now,  if  he  takes  the 
lady  for  a  wife." 


456  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

"  There's  not  much  danger,"  I  remarked ;  "  Sir  William 
ii.is  asked  me  to  relinquish  all  claim,  and  even  offered  me 
money  to  do  so." 

"  Did  you  kno(^  him  down  ? "  demanded  the  impulsive 
Brown. 

"  Did  you  explain  who  you  were,  and  how  much  money 
you  were  worth  ? "  inquired  the  cautious  Murden. 

"  Neither." 

"  Then  what  in  the  devil's  name  did  you  do  ?"  both  men 
demanded,  in  an  eager  tone. 

"  Why,  I  did  nothing,  except  to  tell  him  that  I  was  as 
good  as  his  child,  and  that  I  should  not  dishonor  her  by 
marriage." 

"  Grood  for  you,"  was  the  answer.  And  then  I  repeated 
a  portion  of  the  conversation  which  had  ensued  between  Sir 
William  and  myself. 

Both  of  my  friends  were  somewhat  indignant  at  the  treat- 
Kiient  which  I  had  received  ;  and  yet  Murden  was  not  entirely 
*<yprepared  for  it,  as  he  informed  me  that  Sir  William  had 
.i^oiiVersed  with  him  on  the  subject  the  night  before,  —  had 
uskbJ  many  questions  as  to  my  past  history,  and  the  reputa- 
tion which  I  sustained,  and  seemed  a  little  disappointed  that 
all  thrtt  was  uttered  was  so  much  in  my  favor. 

"  I  tell  you  what  'tis,"  said  Mr.  Brown,  "  if  you  want  the 
girl  and  she  wants  you,  just  take  her,  in  spite  of  the  father. 
Hang  me  if  I  won't  help  you." 

MurdejL  shook  his  head. 

*'  Better  have  the  consent  of  the  baronet,"  the  cautious 
commissioner  replied.  "  Keep  cool,  and  I  think  it  can  be 
obtained." 

*'  Hang  tLs  baronet ! "  the  impatient  IMr.  Brown  ex- 
cldmed.  *'  W<i  can't  afford  to  wait  his  motions.  Bun  off 
with  the  girl,  and  marry  her  in  spite  of  him.  If  that  won't 
do,  I'll  let  some  of  my  men  play  bushranger  for  a  short  time, 
and  take  the  young  lady  in  spite  of  the  father.  Blast  it, 
we'll  manage  some  way,  you  see  if  we  don't.  Youv  friends 
won't  desert  you  in  this  iiotu  of  need.'* 


A  STERN  REFUSAL.  457 

But,  to  Mr.   Brown's   astonishment,  I  declined  all  sueb 

assistance. 

•*  No,"  I  said  ;  "  if  I  marry  the  young  lady,  it  must  be 
without  force  and  violence.  She  must  come  to  me  and  say 
that  my  life  is  as  valuable  to  her  as  her  own,  and  that  with- 
out me  riches  and  station  were  useless." 

'*  Devilish  exacting  !  "  muttered  Mr.  Brown,  who  did  not 
like  such  a  cool  way  of  reasoning.  "  The  girl  won't  think 
you  have  much  love  for  her  unless  you  are  warmer." 

"  We  shall  see,"  I  replied.  *'  I  only  want  a  chance  to 
epeak  to  her  while  we  are  on  the  march,  and  I  think  that  I 
shall  be  able  to  set  matters  all  right." 

"  0,  you  shall  have  chance  enough  this  forenoon,"  both- 
my  friends  remarked.  And  then  we  proceeded  to  get  break- 
fast, which  was  awaiting  us. 

Miss  Jenny  joined  us,  looking  a  little  thin  and  pale  after 
her  night's  suffering.  She  was  rather  inclined  to  be  moody, 
or  sullen,  as  though  something  had  been  said  to  her  that  she 
did  not  approve  of;  yet,  the  instant  I  bade  her  good  morning, 
she  looked  up,  ran  towards  me,  and  threw  her  arms  around 
my  neck. 

"  You  saved  my  life  !  "  she  sobbed,  "  and  I'll  never  forget 
you.  No,  never !  I  had  rather  have  you  than  all  the  men 
in  the  world." 

*'  Pretty  little  dear ! "  muttered  the  sentimental  Mr. 
Brown,  almost  scalding  his  mouth  with  hot  coffee ;  "  what 
a  shame  to  part  'em ! " 

"  Such  a  fine  couple !  "  ]Mr.  Murden  remarked,  with  a 
glance  at  Sir  William's  face,  as  though  he  was  fearful  of 
taking  too  great  a  liberty  with  such  an  eminent  man. 

Compliments  did  not  soften  the  baronet's  heart.  He  put 
m  arm  on  his  child's  shoulder,  drew  her  away,  and  said,  — 

"  Your  breakfast  is  waiting,  my  dear.  Better  think  of 
that  at  the  present  moment.  You  need  it  more  than  sueb 
nonsense  as  you  have  just  exhibited." 


i.'iM  THE  BUSHRANGKKS. 


CHAPTER   LXIX. 

ON    THE    TRAMP. A    WONDERFUL    LAKE. /L    IFAEM 

RECEPTION. 

At  daylight  the  police  commenced  saddling  their  hoiiiefi^ 
iikI  packing  their  effects,  and  by  eight  o'clock  we  were  or 
our  way  to  Bendigo,  by  the  way  of  Smith's  farm,  where  we 
meant  to  stop  all  night,  and  part  of  the  afternoon,  in  case 
Ptliss  Jenny  should  exhibit  signs  of  fatigue  ;  and  I  thought 
that  she  would  be  likely  to. 

For  the  first  hour  we  passed  over  the  prairies  without  ex- 
changing a  word,  each  officer  being  occupied  with  the  thought 
that  it  was  decidedly  ungrateful  on  the  part  of  Mad  Dick  to 
die  in  such  a  hurry,  and  leave  no  sign  behind  him  as  to  the 
exact  section  of  the  country  where  his  treasures  were  buried. 

"Yes,"  said  the  commissioner,  who  was  riding  by  my 
side,  in  moody  silence,  suddenly  awakening  to  life,  "  I'll 
never  forgive  the  cuss  —  never.  He  might  have  made  us 
happy,  if  he  had  had  only  a  little  common  sense.  I  didn't 
ask  much  from  him,  and  the  least  he  could  have  done  would 
have  been  to  make  a  sign.  But  he's  gone,  and  with  him  all 
knowledge  of  his  money.  It's  a  shame  —  a  swindle  —  a 
cheating  of  honest  men  out  of  their  rights.  But  what  could 
you  expect  from  such  a  low-born  villain  ? " 

"  Mankind  is  pretty  much  alike,"  I  replied.  "  Peer  or 
peasant,  they  all  look  after  their  own  interests  before  taking 
care  of  their  neighbors'.  You  would  do  the  same  thing; 
80  don't  preach." 

•*  I  don't  intend  to  ;  but  you  know  it  was  devilish  aggra- 
Tating  on  the  part  of  Dick  ;  now  wasn't  it  ? " 

I  admitted  that  it  was,  although  I  hardly  knew  what  I  was 
saying,  for  my  eyes  were  directed  towards  Jenny,  and  I  saw 
by  her  motion  that  she  wished  to  speak  to  me.  But  the 
baronel  kept  close  to  her  s"de,  and  did  not  seem  inclined  to 
budge  an  inch,  much  as  I  desired  him  to. 


ON  TUK   TRAMr.  — A  WONDERFUL  LAKE.  459 

*'  Are  you  dying  to  bill  and  coo  a  little  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Brown,  with  a  knowing  smile.  "AYell,  you  shall,  because 
Bhe*s  a  devilish  handsome  girl,  bright  enough  to  turn  the 
head  of  any  young  fellow  with  a  fancy  for  a  pretty  face." 

•'  Cease  your  bantering,  and  give  me  the  opportunity  you 
Baid  that  you  would,"  I  replied. 

"  All  right.  Just  see  how  I'll  do  it ;  keep  your  eye  on 
ine,  now." 

He  fell  back  a  little,  and  beckoned  to  Jackson.  For  a  few 
moments  the  commissioner  and  his  man  whispered  to  each 
other,  and  then  Jackson  trotted  to  the  front,  and  Mr.  Urown 
once  more  joined  me.  I  knew  that  some  plan  was  on  foot, 
but  asked  no  questions,  content  to  wait  developments.  Jack- 
son rode  far  to  the  front,  then  suddenly  wheeled  his  horse, 
and  came  towards  us  on  a  run. 

"What's  up  ?"  shouted  Mr.  Brown,  as  soon  as  the  man 
came  within  hail. 

"  Nothin'  perticuiar,  sir ;  only  if  you  wants  to  see  one  of 
the  wonders  of  Australia,  now  is  the  time." 

"Hey?  What  is  that?"  asked  Sir  William,  suddenly 
interested,  and  for  the  moment  forgetting  Jenny.  He  called 
her  by  the  name  by  which  she  was  christened ;  but  I  ignored 
it,  and  stuck  to  "  Jenny,"  as  most  familiar.  He  touched  the 
horse  which  he  rode,  and  left  Jenny's  side.  Mr.  Brown  winked 
in  a  peculiar  manner,  and  continued  to  question  Jackson. 

"  What  is  the  wonder  you  speak  of,  Jackson  ?  " 

"  The  Devil's  Lake,  sir.    You  must  have  heard  of  it,  sir." 

"  Of  course  I  have.  Who  has  not  ?  How  far  is  it  from 
here?" 

"  About  four  miles,  sir." 

"  And  pray  what  kind  of  a  lake  is  the  Devil's  Lake  ? " 
ftsked  Sir  William. 

"  Jackson  can  tell  you,"  was  Mr.  Brown's  answer. 

"  Sure,  sir,  it's  a  lake  that  is  all  covered  with  salt  during 
the  dry  seasons,  and  in  it  you'll  see  lots  of  alligators,  wedged 
in  as  though  in  pickle,  and  not  a  bit  can  they  move  till  the 
rains  come.     It's  funny  to  see  'em." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  asked  Sir  William.  "  I  never  heard 
iif  such  a  thing.     Did  you  ?  " 


460  THE   BUSHRANGERS. 

He  forgot  himself  for  a  moment  in  turning  to  speak  to 
me ;  but  not  waiting  for  an  answer,  continued  to  addres? 
Jackson. 

"  I've  seen  the  lake  many  times,"  the  man  said,  in  a  sober 
tone.     *'  Every  nob  who  travels  this  way  takes  a  squint  at  it/' 

Sir  William  looked  a  little  irresolute  ;  but  the  next  words 
of  Jackson  decided  him  to  go. 

"  No  man  ever  seed  such  a  sight  but  once  in  his  life- 
hmo,"  Jackson  continued.  "  Them  'ere  alligators  is  wedged 
in  the  salt  just  as  though  it  was  marble,  and  there  *em  lays 
all  the  summer,  winkin'  'em  eyes,  and  carin'  no  more  for  a 
man  than  a  'sketer." 

"  Will  you  go  with  me  and  see  this  wonderful  lake  ? " 
asked  the  baronet,  turning  to  Mr.  Brown. 

Mr.  Brown  said  that  he  would ;  and  after  whispering  the 
following  words,  he  called  to  four  of  his  men  to  accompany 
him,  and  left  us. 

*'  Now,  old  fellow,  go  in  and  have  a  good  time.  Talk  to 
Jenny  as  much  as  you  please,  and  if  you  don't  win  her  to  your 
way  of  thinking,  I  shall  believe  that  you  don't  care  for  her.  I'll 
keep  the  old  nob  at  a  distance  till  after  you  arrive  at  Smith's." 

He  gaUoped  off,  and  was  soon  lost  to  view  among  the 
bushes.  Then  I  wasted  no  time.  I  dismounted  from  my 
horse,  threw  the  bridle  to  one  of  the  men,  and  took  a  seat 
by  the  side  of  Miss  Jenny,  in  the  miner's  cart,  disturbing 
her  reverie  by  the  suddenness  of  my  appearance. 

"  My  goodness,  where  did  you  come  from  ?  I  thought 
you'd  forgot  me." 

"  Your^ father  says  that  I  must  forget  you,  Jenny,"  I  re- 
plied, meeting  the  glance  of  her  mild  blue  eyes  with  one  of 
such  sincere  admiration  that  the  girl  blushed,  and  attempted, 
in  a  playful  manner,  to  rap  me  on  the  knuckles  with  the 
handle  of  the  whip  which  she  carried. 

"  Did  my  new  guv'ner  say  that  you  couldn't  have  me  ?" 
asked  Jenny,  desisting  from  her  rapping  project,  and  looking 
a  little  sorry  because  she  had  started  the  skin  from  my  hand 

"  Yes  ;  we  had  a  long  talk  this  morning,  and  h^  informed 
me  that  you  were  above  me  in  station,  and  I  must  not  taink 
more  of  you." 


IKTERVIEW  WITH  JENNY.  46\ 

-•  O,  gammon  ! "  was  the  cry.  "  He  knows  better  tlian 
that.  He  said  somethin'  like  it  to  me,  but  I  stopped  him 
by  jest  tellin'  him  that  I  was  a  poor  ignorant  girl  when  you 
fust  made  love  to  me,  and  that  I  wasn't  goin'  to  throw  you 
aside  now  that  I  was  somethin'  better  than  a  bar-maid." 

"  He  will  ne^  er  listen  to  my  prayers,"  I  said,  in  rather  a 
despondent  tone.  "  His  pride  is  too  great 'to  permit  him  to 
look  upon  me  as  a  son-in-law." 

"  Hang  his  pride !  you  is  better  than  me,  anyhow ;  now 
ain't  you  ? " 

I  shook  my  head. 

"You  know  it's  so,  for  I  can't  talk  like  you.  and  you 
would  never  have  thought  of  me  if  I  hadn't  had  a  decent 
face.     Now  ain't  it  so  ?  " 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,"  Jenny  continued,  in  a  flow  of  delight 
at  the  prospect  before  her,  "  if  the  guv'ner  is  stiff  and  won't 
back  down,  we  can  make  a  livin'  in  Melbourne  by  openin'  a 
porter-house.  I  can  tend  bar,  and  force  the  customers  to 
drink  when  they  has  had  enough." 

"  0,  Jenny,  Jenny  !  "  I  cried,  "  G-od  forbid  that  we  should 
be  reduced  to  such  a  strait.  I  would  rather  see  you  in  a 
coffin  than  behind  a  bar." 

"  I  shouldn't,"  was  the  prompt  answer.  "  I  don't  think 
rd  look  so  handsome  in  a  box  as  I  would  behind  a  bar. 
Besides,  you  wouldn't  love  me  half  as  well  dead  as  alive. 
You  know  you  wouldn't.     Men  never  do." 

"  Perhaps  not,  but  still  I  don't  think  you  will  have  occasion 
to  hand  around  beer  and  pipes  to  blear-eyed  customers.  I  am 
able  to  support  a  wife  if  I  am  fortunate  enough  to  find  one." 

"  And  do  you  still  feel  that  you  want  me  for  a  wife  ?  " 
asked  Jenny,  laying  one  of  her  hands  on  mine,  and  looking 
in  my  face  with  a  glance  that  told  of  affection,  confidcDce, 
and  love. 

"  Certainly  I  do." 

"  With  all  my  bad  ways,  all  my  ignorance  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  then,  you  shall  have  me,  in  spite  of  guv'ner  and 
all  his  yarnin'.     I'll  marry  no  one  but  you.     But  —  " 


462  ^  THE  BUSHRAJSTGEKS. 

**  But  what  ?  " 

"  You  must  let  me  do  as  I  please  till  Tm  married 
A-rterwards  I  s'pose  you'll  want  your  say." 

I  did  not  contradict  her  on  that  point. 

"  One  thing  more." 

"  Yes,  let  me  hear  it." 

"  You  knows  I  ain't  fit  to  be  your  wife  just  now,  don't  you  ?  ** 

I  looked  at  her  in  surprise,  and  wondered  what  she  meant,. 

*'  You  see,  I  ain't  never  had  no  edication,  and  that's  wha< 
I  wants  most  of  all.  I  can  be  as  good  as  you,  and  sich  com- 
pany as  you  would  want.  You  needn't  shake  your  head  ;  you 
know  you'd  be  ashamed  to  introduce  me  to  your  friends 
now ;  wouldn't  you  ?  " 

"  No,  Jenny." 

"  I  knows  better,  *cos  once  or  twice  you  has  said  some- 
thin'  to  me  about  my  bad  grammar  —  just  as  though  I  knew 
what  you  meant.  But  it  showed  me  that  I  did  not  talk 
straight,  and  I  want  to  learn,  and  I  will  learn." 

I  waited  for  her  to  conclude  her  remarkable  statement, 
for  it  proved  to  me  that  she  was  much  farther  advanced  than 
I  imagined  her  to  be  —  that  she  possessed  solid  sense  as 
well  as  great  beauty. 

'  Now  don't  you  think  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing  for 
me  to  learn  a  little  arter  I  was  spliced,  or  afore  I  was  spliced?*' 

*'  I  should  rather  commend  such  an  idea,"  was  my  reply. 

"  Then  we  think  alike  on  that  point.  Now  for  my  plan. 
Arter  the  guv'ner  says  I  may  have  you,  I'm  goin'  to  school 
a  year  or  two." 

"  And  leave  me  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  But  that  is  hard  and  cruel." 

'*  Well,  we'll  manage  so  that  we  can  see  each  other  every 
two  weeks.  I  studies  one  or  two  years  in  some  seminary  — 
there's  one  jest  near  Melbourne,  where  any  gals  is  took  in 
and  boarded  all  the  time  they  is  there  —  and  then  I  gets 
some  knowledge  of  bcfoks,  and  music,  and  other  things,  and 
has  a  course  of  study  marked  out  for  me,  so  that  I  can  learu 
all  the  time  arter  I  has  left  school.     Now,  ain't  that  good  ^ " 


A  WAKM  RECEPTION.  463 

"  Yes,  as  far  as  it  goes.  But  how  can  I  spare  you  foi 
fiucl;i  a  length  of  time  ? " 

"  T\Tiy,  you  goose,  don't  you  see  me  once  in  two  weeks  by 
such  an  arrangement  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  that  is  smalT  in  comparison  to  seeing  you  a 
dozen  times  a  day." 

"  Ah,  but  think  of  the  object  of  my  exile.  It's  to  be 
worthy  of  your  love." 

I  glanced  around,  and  saw  that  none  of  the  men  were  look- 
ing in  our  direction,  and  then  I  plucked  the  freshness  from 
a  sweet  mouth ;  and  Jenny  uttered  a  sigh  of  satisfaction 
as  I  did  so.  I  was  just  about  to  repeat  the  exploit  when 
Murden  rode  up.  I  wished  him  to  the  devil,  but  still  had  to 
tolerate  him.  I  believe  that  he  saw  me  kiss  Jenny,  and 
was  determined  to  interrupt  me  in  the  business,  fearing 
that  I  was  progressing  a  little  too  fast. 

"  Ahem !  "  he  cried ;  "  it's  growing  a  little  warm.  Don't 
you  think  so  ? " 

I  understood  him.  Sir  William  might  find  out  that  Jack- 
son had  humbugged  him,  and  so  return  and  put  an  end  to 
our  pleasant  chat. 

**  Trot !  "  shouted  Murden  to  his  men ;  and  on  we  went, 
as  fast  as  I  could  urge  the  horse  that  was  attached  to  the 
wagon. 

For  an  hour  or  two  we  dashed  on,  raising  great  clouds  of 
dust  in  our  course,  causing  the  animals  to  foam  and  pant 
under  the  heat,  until  at  last  we  began  to  notice  evidences  of 
cultivated  soil,  civilization,  irrigation,  and  broad  pastures. 
xn  ten  minutes  after  making  this  discovery  we  drew  up 
before  Smith's  house,  with  a  cheer  that  brought  all  the 
iDmates  to  the  door  in  double  quick  time,  rather  astonished 
at  the  noise  we  made.  I  looked  up  and  saw  the  grinning 
face  of  Hezekiah  Plopeful,  my  partner,  the  jolly  phiz  of 
Smith,  and  the  pale,  sweet  countenance  of  Amelia,  the  young 
lady  who  had  received  such  barbarous  treatment  at  the  hands 
of  Moloch,  before  we  were  able  to  rescue  her,  and  punish  the 
villain  as  he  deserved.  Amelia  did  not  remain  more  than  a 
second  or  two  at  the  door.     She  gave  one  hurried  glance  ; 


464  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

h(3r  eyes  met  mine,  and  then  slie  vanished  from  sight,  awl  1 
paw  notliing  more  of  her  till  towards  night.  Hopeful  uttgrec? 
a  shout  of  joy,  and  rushed  towards  me.  Smith  rubbed  his 
hands  and  laughed ;  then,  inspired  by  a  bright  idea,  seized 
his  baby,  which  was  in  his  wife's  arms,  kissed  it  until  it  cried 
in  terror,  and  then  returned  it  to  the  lady,  and  rushed  out 
to  welcome  his  friends  and  the  company. 

Hardly  had  I  set  foot  to  the  ground  before  a  solid  body 
dashed  against  me,  nearly  overturning  me  in  its  struggle  to 
reach  my  face.  It  was  my  brave  dog.  Rover,  that  I  had  not 
Been  for  a  week  or  two,  and  now  was  testifying  the  joy  he 
felt  at  the  reunion.  Mrs.  Smith  welcomed  Jenny  to  the 
hospitalities  of  her  house  with  a  kindness  and  tenderness 
that  placed  the  girl  at  ease  at  once  ;  while  the  police,  who 
knew  how  to  procure  comfort  at  a  cheap  rate,  fed  their 
horses,  gave  them  water,  rubbed  them  down,  and  then  began 
to  look  after  provisions  for  their  own  stomachs.  Miss  Jenny 
was  treated  by  the  hostess  to  a  bath,  clean  linen,  and  a  fresh 
muslin  dress  ;  and  when  I  saw  her,  after  she  had  under- 
gone some  changes,  I  thought  that  I  had  never  seen  so 
handsome  a  girl ;  but  before  I  had  opportunity  to  tell  her 
that  such  was  the  case,  and  to  prove  it  to  her  by  word  of 
mouth,  I  heard  a  voice  in  the  yard,  and  looking  out,  I  saw 
Sir  William,  Mr.  Brown,  Jackson,  and  the  four  policemen, 
all  of  whom  had  been  in  search  of  the  wonderful  lake,  which 
Jackson  was  certain  "  laid  off  that  there,  a  little  ways  to  the 
right" 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

A     WONDERFUL     liAKE.  THE     QUARTZ     CRUSHERS,  A 

SEPARATION. 

Sir  William  did  not  look  remarkable  for  his  good  nature 
as  he  dismounted  from  his  horse  and  entered  the  house,  fol- 
lowed by  ]Mr.  Brown,  the  inspector. 

*'  I  hope  you  enjoyed  your  visit  to  the  *  Devil's  Lake/  Si? 


THE   DEVIL'S  LAKE.  465 

\A  illiam,"  I  said,  as  the  frowning  man  entered  the  room 
where  Jenny  and  I  were  seated. 

"  No,  sir,  I  did  not  enjoy  it,"  was  the  curt  answer. 

"  May  I  ask  the  reason  why  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  you  may.  The  wonders  of  the  lake  have  been 
greatly  exaggerated.  I  saw  nothing  remarkable  about  it. 
There  was  a  mass  of  mud,  and  a  mass  of  salt ;  but  not  an 
alligator  to  be  seen,  nor  any  appearance  of  one/' 

"  The  fact  of  it  is,"  said  Mr.  Brown,  ''  Sir  William  feels 
that  he  has  been  imposed  upon  by  a  traveller's  yarn,  and 
that  he  has  wasted  time  in  going  out  of  the  way." 

Sir  William  disdained  to  answer,  or  to  bandy  words  on 
the  subject.  He  sat  down  by  the  side  of  Jenny,  put  his 
arm  around  her  waist,  and  kissed  her. 

"  My  dear  child,"  he  said,  *'  I  hope  to  place  you  in  a  dif- 
ferent position,  in  a  few  days,  where  you  will  be  surrounded 
by  members  of  your  own  sex,  and  no  longer  exposed  to  the 
wandering  life  which  you  have  witnessed  for  the  last  fortnight." 

As  this  was  intended  as  a  hint,  I  gave  Mr.  Brown  a  wink, 
and  left  the  room,  the  commissioner  following  me  ;  but  as  i 
closed  the  door,  I  heard  Jenny  say,  — 

"  I  don't  want  to  have  a  lot  of  ugly  old  women  round  me, 
and  I  won't  —  there,  now." 

"  He'll  have  some  work  to  tame  her,"  muttered  Mr, 
Brown.     "  She's  got  a  will  of  her  own  ;  now  ain't  she  ? " 

We  met  Smith  and  Hopeful  in  the  front  yard.  They 
were  relating  the  trials  which  they  had  experienced  in 
moving  the  crushers  and  steam-engine ;  so  I  had  to  listen  to 
their  account  of  the  journey,  the  hardships  which  they  had 
endured ;  how  their  teams  broke  down,  their  oxen  strayed  off 
at  night ;  how  some  of  their  men  deserted  ;  and  a  number 
of  other  matters  that  a  lover  is  not  supposed  to  care  about. 

"  And  now,"  inquired  Hez,  '*  whar  do  you  suppose  the 
engine  is  ? " 

"  On  the  carts,"  I  answered,  at  random. 

"No,  sir,  it's  on  the  ground,  at  the  foot  of  Quartz  Hill; 
and  in  two  or  three  days  we  can  fire  up  and  see  what  the 
rocks  is  made  of,  and  how  much  gold  there  is  in  'era." 


466  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

I  was  rejoi:3d  to  hear  that  such  was  the  case. 

♦*  Yes,"  said  Hez,  "  we  has  worked  rather  spry,  all  things 
considered.  I  has  hired  six  men  to  help  us  get  out  the 
quartz,  lug  wood,  and  do  other  work ;  and  I  has  stowed  *eni 
all  away  in  the  cave.     You  remember  it,  don't  you  r " 

Should  I  ever  forget  it  ?  Had  I  not  been  a  prisoner  in 
that  cave,  surrounded  by  ferocious  bushrangers,  and  save-i 
from  a  violent  death  by  the  aid  of  Mother  Brown  ? 

"If  you  have  time,  we  might  ride  over  there  Chis  arter- 
uoon,  and  see  how  things  is  working,"  Hez  said. 

I  was  about  to  reply,  but  Mr.  Brown  said,  — 

"  Of  course,  I  shall  be  delighted  to  go.  We  have  time 
enough.  •  We  don't  move  from  here  till  to-morrow.  Come, 
I'll  find  fresh  horses." 

Off  he  went,  levied  on  some  of  Smith's  animals,  and  first 
making  Miirden  promise  that  he  would  keep  Sir  William  and 
Jenny  at  the  station  until  we  returned,  started  across  the 
country  on  horseback,  reached  the  cave  at  three  o'clock,  saw 
that  the  men  were  laying  a  foundation  for  the  engine  and 
srushers,  cutting  wood,  while  two  experienced  miners  were 
wheeling  huge  blocks  of  quartz,  the  sides  of  which  were 
speckled  with  flecks  of  gold. 

"  It's  just  the  richest  vein  that  I  ever  worked  on,"  one  of 
the  miners  said.  *'  There's  a  mine  of  goold  in  this  'ere  hill. 
I  only  wish  I  had  a  claim  here,  and  the  tools  to  work  with." 

Mr.  Brown  was  delighted  and  astonished  at  the  evidences 
of  wealth  that  were  around  us.  On  the  whole,  I  was  well 
satisfied  with  what  I  saw,  and  what  had  been  done,  and  so 
rode  back  to  the  farm  house. 

"  Hopeful,"  I  said,  as  we  neared  the  house,  '*  how  do  you 
Btand  towards  Amelia  ? " 

My  friend  colored  a  little,  and  did  not  look  towards  me  as 
he  replie^d,  — 

"  Wal,  the  fact  of  it  is,  I  rather  thinks  I  loves  Martha 
Poland  better  nor  'Mealy."  * 

"  Indeed !    When  did  you  arrive  at  such  a  conclusion  ? " 

**  O,  this  forenoon,  I  guess." 

*'  How  does  it  happen  that  such  is  the  case  ?'* 


AMELIA'S   DISMISSION    OF  HEZ.  461 

'*  Confound  it!  yeou  is  mighty  inquisitive  all  at  once," 
retorted  Hopeful,  with  a  guilty  laugh,  his  plain  face  suffused 
with  blushes. 

"  Of  course  I  am  when  your  interest  is  concerned." 

**  Ahem  —  wal,  then,  if  you  must  know,  I  don't  mind  tellin' 
yeou  that  me  and  'Mealy  had  a  talk  to-day,  afore  you  got 
along,  and  she  said  that  —  0,  go  long ;  I  ain't  goin'  to 
tell  yeou." 

"  Yes,  you  will ;  go  on." 

"  How  curious  you  are  !  Wal,  then,  she  said  that  she 
should  allers  like  me  as  a  friend,  and  all  that,  but  I  hadn't 
better  think  of  her  no  more  as  a  lover." 

'*  Did  she  mean  it  ? " 

"  Wal,  I  guess  yeou'd  have  thought  so  if  yeou  had  seen 
her  face.     I  tell  you  she  was  in  arnest,  if  ever  a  gal  was." 

*'  I  am  glad  to  hear  it." 

"Yes,  'cos  you  want  her  yourself!  "  cried,  the  blunt  son 
of  New  Hampshire. 

"  There  is  where  you  wrong  me,  Hez.  I  have  no  design 
on  the  young  lady.  I  have  already  pledged  my  heart  and 
hand  to  another." 

"  And  that  other  is  who  ?  Not  Miss  Jenny,  the  barrow- 
night's  darter ! " 

"  The  same." 

"  Whew ! "  whistled  Hez ;  "  she's  pretty,  but  won't  she  make 
things  fly  ?    I  tell  yeou,  she's  got  a  temper  of  her  own."     > 

"Most  women  have,  Hez.  Even  your  peerless  Martha 
Poland  could  show  a  little  if  she  was  disposed  to." 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  so.  But  what  does  the  daddy  say  }  Is  he 
mWm'  }  " 

^'No" 

'*  More  fool  he  !  You  is  as  good  as  he  is,  if  not  a  darned 
sight  better ;  and  I'll  tell  him  so  if  he  talks  to  me  on  the 
subject." 

"  Thank  you ;  but  tell  me  about  Amelia ;  what  else  did 
she  say  : " 

"  0,  not  much,  only  that  her  life  was  blighted,  and  thai 
flhe  could  never  be  happy  again,  and  that  I  mustn't  speai 


468  THE  BUSHKANGERS. 

to  her  about  love  any  more,  'cos  her  heart  Tvas  a  ruined 
heart ;  and  then  'she  shook  hands  with  me  and  left.  ! 
tell  you  I  pitied  her.  So,  that's  the  way,  yer  see,  that  my 
love  all  went  back  to  Martha." 

I  had  no  further  opportunity  to  speak  with  Jenny  that 
night.  Her  father  complained  that  she  was  tired,  and  needed 
rest ;  so  hurried  her  off  to  a  spare  room,  and,  I  think,  locked 
feer  in;  but  of  that  I  won't  be  sure,  as  I  did  not  venture 
Bear  her  apartment  during  the  evening.  But  I  had  an 
hour's  uninterrupted  conversation  with  Amelia,  and  found 
the  poor  child  in  better  spirits  and  health  than  I  could  have 
supposed.  She  still  remembered  the  injuries  which  she  had 
received,  and  shuddered  as  she  thought  of  them ;  but  all 
danger  to  her  mind  had  passed.  Insanity  no  longer  threat- 
ened her  active  brain.  But  I  missed  all  of  her  little  coquet- 
tish airs,  which  at  one  time  were  so  charming,  and  so  well 
calculated  to  drive  a  lover  or  a  sensitive  person  to  the  verge 
of  distraction  ;  but  instead,  I  found  a  quiet,  womanly  grace, 
a  grave,  dignified  manner,  that  was  full  as  engaging  and 
delightful  as  the  girlish  manifestations  which  I  had  so  much 
admired,  yet  at  the  same  time  detested  on  account  of  their 
being  so  trying  to  the  feelings. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  friend,"  Amelia  said,  as  she  laid  her 
hand  on  mine,  and  looked  up  at  my  face  with  an  earnest  and 
feeling  glance,  "  they  tell  me  that  you  are  experiencing 
some  trouble.  I  have  told  you  all  that  concerns  myself;  let 
me  have  your  confidence.  Tell  me  in  what  manner  I  can 
assist  you.  You  know  that  my  gratitude  and  will  are  strong 
enough  to  do  so." 

*'  I  know  that  they  are ;  but  still  I  do  not  sec  how  you 
cnn  help  me,  Amelia.     Time  may  render  me  some  assip* 
ance,  but   at   present  I  am  fearful    my  happiness  will   be 
wrecked  through  the  obstinacy  of  one  person." 

*'  That  must  not  be,"  she  said,  with  a  gentle  pressure  of 
her  hand.  "  Sir  William  is  not  acquaintecl  with  your  worth, 
or  he  would  not  refuse  his  consent  to  your  marriage.  I  am 
Bure  that  you  are  as  good  as  she  is  ;  in  fact,  as  good  as  any 
roman  in  the  world ;  and  most  of  them  would  be  proud  of  yow 


INTERVIEW   WITH   THE   PET.  46 S 

as  a  husband.  I  will  see  Sir  William  and  tell  him  all  that  1 
know  about  you.  He  must  lower  his  pride.  He  shall.  1 
will  talk  to  him  in  such  a  manner  that  he  will  listen  to  me." 

^' J  fear  that  it  will  be  in  vain,  my  dear.  Better  let  him 
pursue  his  own  course.  I  think  that  I  can  count  on  the 
strength  of  Miss  Jenny's  affection,  and  that,  when  the  proper 
time  arriTes,  she  will  make  her  choice,  and  cling  to  her 
father  or  myself.  Of  course  I  thank  you  for  the  int€.rest 
you  maiinast  in  my  affairs,  but  T  think  that  daylight  will 
be  seen  before  long." 

"  But  I  may  speak  to  Sir  William  ?  "  pleaded  Amelia. 

"  Certainly,  my  child.  You  have  full  permission  to  say 
what  you  please.  Only  don't  praise  me  too  much.  He  may 
think  that  you  are  overdoing  it." 

"  I  will  be  careful ;  "  and  with  these  words  I  bade  her  good 
night,  and  retired  to  rest. 

The  next  morning  the  baronet  stole  a  march  on  me ;  for 
he  arose  at  an  early  h.our,  aroused  his  daughter,  compelled 
her  to  dress,  and  then  started  for  Bendigo  an  hour  or  two 
before  we  were  up.  I  was  astonished  when  I  heard  of 
the  movement,  and  threatened  to  pursue  the  parties ;  bu\ 
Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Murden  laughed  at  the  idea,  and  coaxed 
me  to  remain  and  keep  cool. 

Murden  sent  the  Pet,  a  most  miserable  looking  specimen 
of  a  prize-fighter,  all  knocked  out  of  time,  and  no  longer 
able  to  stand  on  the  defensive,  to  Melbourne,  under  the 
charge  of  two  ofiicers,  with  orders  to  make  a  complainl 
against  the  man,  and  hold  him,  on  the  ground  of  abduction. 

*'  Sykes,"  I  said,  as  the  fellow  mounted  a  horse  and  war 
then  secured  so  that  escape  was  impossible,  "I  may  never 
see  you  again.  I  bear  you  no  malice,  old  fellow,  even  if 
you  have  ill-treated  me  at  different  times.  Let  me  hope 
that  you  will  escape  punishment,  and  live  an  honest  life  Id 
the  future." 

'*  I  don't  know  what  has  come  over  me,"  answered  the 
Pet ;  "  but  I  feels  like  throwin'  up  the  sponge  and  retirin' 
from  the  ring,  declarin'  all  bets  off,  and  no  more  fights  ex- 
sept  with  the  gloves.     That's  the  way  I  feel." 


§70  I'HE   BUSHRANGEKS. 

"  I  am  glad  of  it.     Then  there  shall  be  peace  beUveen  us  " 
"Yes,  I  suppose  ho,  'cos  I'm  down,  and  it's  hardly  fair  to. 
hit  a  cove  when  he's  on  his  back.     Good  by,  old  fellow.    If 
you  splices  my  little  Jenny,  you  gets  a  clipper,  and  no  .mis- 
take.    She  is  as  good  and  pure  as  old  Fay's  brardy.     I 
knows  it,  'cos  I  has  watched  her.     At  first  I  thought  I'd 
wait  till  she  growed  up,  and  then  I'd  sell  her ;  but  I  has 
thought  better  of  it,  and  now  I'm  glad  of  it,  'cos  mmh.  as  I 
hated  her  guv'ner,  I  liked  the  gal.     She  was  just  like  my 
own  flesh  and  blood ;  "  and,  with  a  tear  in  his  eye,  the  prize- 
fighter  rode   off,   and  I  did   not  again    see  him   until   he 
was  free,  and  then  he  let  himself  to  the  missionaries,  and 
travelled    round   the    country    distributing    tracts,    for   the 
charge  of  abduction  was  not  preferred  by  Sir  William,  after 
he  reached  Melbourne,  for  some  reason  or  other.     The  min- 
isters got  hold  of  the  ex-prize-fighter,  and  made  an  impres- 
sion on  his  mind,  and  enlisted  him  in  their  cause ;  and  a 
valuable  aid  he  was,  going  among  the  miners  and  natives 
find  compelling  them,  for  fear  of  his  huge  fists,  to  read  his 
religious  papers,  and  to  abstain  from  profanity.     It  was  in 
this  manner  he  lost  his  life ;  for,  one  day,  while  insisting 
that  a  drunken  miner  should  turn  from  the  wrath  to  come, 
should  read  one  of  his  tracts,  and  contribute  liberally  of  his 
wealth  for  the  benefit  of  the  church,  they  had  a  quarrel,  as 
the  miner  differed  from  the  Pet  on  the  expediency  of  so 
doing.     Sykes  was  inclined  to  be  fa"batical  on  certain  points 
of  divinity ;  so  he  called  the  miner  hard  names,  took  him  by 
the   collar  and  shook  him  in  a  surly  manner,  —  and  then 
dropped  to  the  ground,  with  a  bullet  in  his  left  side,  in  the 
region  of  his  heart,  the  miner' thinking  that  cold  lead  was 
the  proper  manner  of  ending  an  argument.     It  did  end  it 
and  the  Pet's  life  at  the  same  time,  for  the  wound  proved 
mortal ;  but  before  the  man  died  he  made  a  will,  and  left  all 
his  property  —  some  five  thousand  pounds  —  to  Jenny,  free 
of  all  control.     The  ministers  begged  him  to  remember  the 
church,  but  the  Pet  refused ;  and  so  he  died,  a  repentant 
man,  and  a  better  one  than  his  friends   expected.     Thus 
terminated  the  career  of  a  desperate  man,  and  at  one  time 


A  SEPARATION.  47 1 

*  very  bad  one.  Let  us  hope  that  he  met  with  some  little 
favor  in  tl:  3  next  world,  for  his  life  was  a  hard  one  in  this. 

After  breakfast  we  started  for  Bendigo ;  but  when  we 
arrived,  we  found  that  Sir  William  and  his  daughter  were 
not  there,  as  we  expected.  He  had  met  one  of  the  Mel- 
bourne stages,  secured  seats,  and  sent  the  horses  which 
they  had  ridden  to  the  station.  Of  course  this  was  a  great 
disappointment  to  me ;  but  I  concealed  all  evidences  of  it 
as  well  as  possible  from  my  companions. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,"  said  Mr.  Brown,  while  we  were 
seated  at  the  tea-tabl«,  and  I  was  admiring  the  domestic 
life  that  he  led,  "  you  had  ought  to  be  married,  and  settle, 
instead  of  wandering  round  the  country,  trying  to  get  your 
neck  broken  ;  that's  what  you  had." 

"  So  he  had,"  remarked  Murden ;  "  I  quite  agree  with  you." 

"  You  are  worse  than  he  is,"  retorted  the  amiable  lady ; 
'*  you  are  older ;  you  should  have  been  married  ten  years 
since.     It's  a  shame." 

"  If  you  will  spare  us  both,  we'll  promise  to  get  married 
at  an  early  day ;  in  fact,  as  soon  as  we  can  find  girls  to 
have  us,"  Murden  remarked,  with  a  laugh  and  blush  that 
puzzled  me,  for  he  was  not  accustomed  to  that  sort  of  thing. 

Mrs.  Brown  graciously  promised  to  comply  ;  so  there  was 
no  more  said  on  the  subject  of  marriage.  We  passed  the 
night  at  Mr.  Brown's  house ;  and  the  next  mornfng,  after 
breakfast,  Murden  and  I  prepared  to  separate,  with  no  ex- 
pectation of  seeing  each  other  for  some  weeks  to  come,  as  I 
should  be  engaged  at  the  mines,  and  he  with  the  police  force 
at  Melbourne.  At  last,  we  grasped  each  other's  hands,  just 
before  we  parted,  and  then  Murden  said, — 

"  I  shall  keep  an  eye  on  the  doings  of  Sir  William,  and 
will  let  you  know  if  there  is  any  news  of  interest.  So, 
good  by,  old  fellow.     Take  care  of  yourself." 

He  mounted  his  horse,  and  was  off ;  and  after  a  few  words 
with  Mr.  Brown,  I  too  turned  my  back  on  the  town,  and 
siowly  cantered  towards  Smith's  station,  feeling  for  the  first 
time  that  I  was  homesick. 


472  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

CHAPTER   LXXI. 

GEN-EKAi    EVENTS. HASTY    AVEDDINGS. CONCLUSICt. 

T  REACHED  Smith's  house  at  a  late  hour  in  the  afternoon 
!  f  jund  the  ladies  at  home,  but  the  men  were  hard  at  ^orL 
j.atting  the  machines  in  order,  and  getting  ic-ady  to  com- 
mence operations.  I  sat  and  tallied  with  the  ladies  until 
Hopeful  and  Smith  returned,  which  they  did  just  at  dark, 
tired  with  their  day's  labor,  but  in  most  excellent  spirits  at 
the  prospect  before  them;  for  the  quartz  looked  richer  and 
richer  the  farther  they  advanced.  In  fact.  Smith  and 
Hopeful  were  so  convinced  that  there  were  millions  of 
dollars  in  the  mountain,  that  they  had  staked  off  additional 
claims,  intending  to  sell  them  as  soon  as  the  work  com- 
menced, for  we  could  not  hope  to  keep  our  operations  secret 
many  days  ;  and  we  knew  that  as  soon  as  the  news  spread, 
thousands  of  adventurers  would  flock  to  the  mine  and  com- 
mence work. 

The  next  day  we  were  up  and  had  breakfast  by  daylight ; 
and  just  as  the  sun  showed  its  face  we  were  on  our  way  to 
the  mine,  v/hero  we  found  our  men  hard  at  work,  and  with 
considerable  zeal ;  for  we  had  engaged  a  stout  young  fellow, 
an  American,  from  Vermont,  to  act  as  foreman  of  the  gang , 
and  he  did  not  allow  idleness  when  good  wages  were  paid. 

In  about  a  week,  I  received  a  letter  from  Murden  which 
contained  important  information.  He  stated  that  Sir  Wil- 
liam had  engaged  state-rooms  on  board  the  steamer 
'*  Bounding  Billow,"  and  was  to  leave  for  England  in  z. 
short  time.  Jenny  was  reported  as  being  dressed  in  the  most 
fashionable  clothes,  and  looking  quite  content  at  the  prospect 
before  her.  I  don't  think  that  I  slept  much  that  night.  ^  J 
thought  of  the  deep  love  which'  I  entertained  for  Jenny,  and 
how  singular  had  been  our  acquaintance  ;  and  then  I  made  a 
resohition  not  to  think  of  her  again,  and  found  that,  like 
most  resolutions  which  men  n  ake  when  a  wo^^aan  is  con- 


GENERAL  EVENTS.  173 

cerned,  it  was  brokru  as  soon  as  entertained.  I  think  that 
it  was  about  in  hour  after  daylight  that  I  heard  a  great  coiji- 
motion  in  the  yard,  as  though  some:  one  had  arrived  most 
unexpectedly ;  but  as  it  was  a  matter  that  did  not  concerii 
me,  I  turned  over  and  tried  to  obtain  a  nap  ;  for  since  w« 
Jbad  got  our  stamps  to  work,  and  a  full  set  of  hands,  it  was 
not  necessary  that  Hopeful  or  myself  should  be  on  duty  at 
all  hours.  The  labor  went  on  whether  we  were  present  or 
absent.  The  quartz  was  crushed  and  the  parts  were  sepa- 
rated just  as  rapidly  as  if  we  were  standing  near  the 
machines.  In  the  course  of  half  an  hour,  after  all  was  quiet 
outside,  I  heard  some  one  coming  up  stairs,  and  the  foot- 
steps sounded  like  Hopeful's.  A  knock  at  the  door  assured 
me  that  it  was  my  friend. 

"Hallo!"  he  cried;  "do  you  intend  to  sleep  all  day  ? 
Come,  rouse  up  and  get  breakfast." 

"  What  is  your  hurry  ? "  I  asked ;  and  stepping  out  of 
bed,  let  my  friend  enter  the  room. 

"  0,  I  don't  know  ;  come  down  stairs." 

"  Has  any  one  arrived  ? "  I  asked.  "  I  thought  that  I 
heard  a  team  enter  the  yard." 

Hopeful  did  not  hear  me,  or,  if  he  did,  failed  to  reply,  for 
he  was  looking  out  of  the  window. 

"  You'd  better  put  on  some  of  your  good  clothes ;  them 
store  clothes,  I  mean,"  Hopeful  said,  when  he  saw  that  I 
was  about  to  mount  the  suit  that  I  commonly  wore  at  the 
mines. 

"  For  what  reason  ? "  I  asked,  wondering  what  possessed 
the  man. 

"  0,  'cos  you've  looked  rather  slouchy  of  late,  and  [  wani 
to  see  you  spruce  up.     Come,  do  it  to  oblige  me." 

"  Anything  to  oblige  you,  Hez ; "  and  on  went  a  neat- 
fitting  suit,  with  a  white  linen  shirt. 

After  I  was  dressed,  my  partner  surveyed  me  with  evident 
marks  of  approval,  and  then  led  the  way  down  stairs. 

"  You  go  into  the  settin'-room  for  a  minute,"  he  said,  and, 
opening  the  door,  pushed  me  in,  closing  the  door  after  me. 

I  sav  a  lady  sitting  in  one  corner  of  the  apartment,  but 


474  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

as  the  wmdow-sha.de  was  down  I  did  not  catch  a  glimpse  of 
her  face  until  she  arose  and  stood  before  me ;  then,  to  m^ 
intense  surprise,  I  saw  that  the  lady  was  Miss  Jenny,  with 
ribhons,  silk  dress,  and  all  that  went  towards  making  a 
fashionable  toilet  in  that  distant  part  of  the  world.  I  was 
too  much  astonished  to  utter  a  word,  for  I  had  not  the 
faintest  suspicion  that  the  lady  was  within  fifty  miles  of  me ; 
and  while  I  was  wondering  if  my  eyes  did  not  deceive  me, 
the  dear  girl  came  towards  me,  and  put  her  arms  around  my 
neck,  and  pressed  her  soft  velvet  cheek  to  mine. 

"  Are  you  not  glad  to  see  me  ?  "  she  whispered. 

I  could  only  kiss  her  and  lead  her  to  a  seat,  striving  to 
still  the  wild  beating  of  my  heart  as  I  did  so.  I  could  not 
speak.  I  was  too  much  overpowered  for  words.  The  sur- 
prise was  too  sudden. 

"Can't  you  give  me  a  word  of  welcome?"  Jenny  whis- 
pered;  and  I  felt  the  warm  pressure  of  her  hand,  as  she 
bent  forward  to  look  in  my  eyes. 

I  could  only  throw  my  arms  around  her  trim  waist  and  kiss 
her  red  lips.  She  appeared  to  like  it,  for  she  made  not  the 
slightest  objection. 

"  Tell  me  how  you  came  here,"  I  said,  when  I  could 
recover  'myself. 

"  In  a  wagon,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  your  father  —  where  is  he  ?  " 

"In  Melbourne,  I  suppose.  I  left  him  there,  getting 
ready  to  sail  for  England." 

"  Then  he  did  not  know  of  your  coming  here  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not ;  if  he  had,  he  would  have  interfered,  and 
prevented  me  from  visiting  you.  He  said  that  I  was  not  to 
see  you  again.  I  intimated  that  I  should  ;  and  I've  kept 
my  word.    Here  I  am.    What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  me  ? " 

That  was  a  question  not  easily  answered ;  so  I  said  at  a 
venture,  "  I'll  give  you  some  breakfast." 

She  pouted  a  little  at  the  answer,  as  though  she  was  not 
pleased  with  it. 

"I  don't  mean  that,  although  goodness  knows  I  am 
hungi-y  enough.     But  I  mean  —  " 


GENERAL  EVENTS.  47^ 

SKe  put  up  lier  month  as  sbe  spoke;  sc  [  took  the  hint, 
and  kissed  it. 

•'1  mean,"  she  whispered,  "will  you  give  me  up  when 
the  guVner  comes  after  me  ?     That's  what  I  mean." 

"  But  will  he  come  after  you  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so  ;  but  I  won't  go  unless  you  go  with  me.  1 
have  made  up  my  mind  to  that  effect,  and  nothing  shall 
change  me.  Without  you  I  should  be  miserable  —  with  you 
I  shall  be  happy." 

"  Tell  me  how  you  manjiged  to  get  here,"  I  asked ;  for 
she  had  not  yet  related  that  portion  of  her  adventures. 

"  O,  simple  enough.  I  just  fixed  up  a  bundle,  hired  a 
man  with  a  horse  and  wagon  to  take  me,  and  here  I  am,  a 
little  tired,  but  glad  enough  to  see  you.  I  have  been  riding 
all  night." 

"  You  shall  have  some  breakfast,  and  then  retire,  and 
obtain  that  rest  which  you  so  much  need,"  I  said.  **  Come, 
I  think  that  the  morning  meal  is  already  on  the  table." 

"  Ah,"  said  Hez,  as  he  took  his  seat  at  the  table,  "  1 
reckon  some  folks  is  mighty  glad  that  I  made  *em  change 
their  shirt  this  mornin'.    Some  folks  look  all  the  better  for  it." 

"  Yes,  and  some  folks  might  have  let  me  into  the  secret 
of  a  certain  lady's  arrival,  and  not  taken  me  by  surprise." 

About  twelve  o'clock,  who  should  drive  up  to  the  house 
but  Mr.  Commissioner  Murden,  his  horse  covered  with  foam 
and  perspir'-tion,  as  though  he  had  ridden  many  miles  at  a 
gallop. 

*'  How  fortunate  that  you  are  at  home  ! "  the  officer  said, 
as  we  shook  hands.  "  I  have  news  for  you.  Sir  William's 
daughter  has  disappeared,  and  we  have  traced  her  towards 
the  bush,  but  cannot  find  her.  She  may  have  fallen  into  tha 
hands  of  some  prowlers.    Will  you  help  me  search  for  her  ?  " 

"  Yes,  come  in." 

He  entered  the  house,  and  I*presented  him  to  Jenny. 

"  The  devil !  "  he  3Jaculated.     "  Are  you  married  ?  " 

"  No.     What  a  question  !  " 

*'  Then  you  are  the  biggest  fool  in  Victoria.  A  man  without 
enterprise,  energy,  and  pluck,  don't  deserve  a  pretty  wife." 


476  TIE   BUSHRANGERS. 

"  What  woald  j^ouhave  me  do  ?" 

"  A  warm-blooded  man,  and  ask  that  question  !  I  an 
ftshamed  of  yo  i." 

"Murden,"  I  said,  in  a  grave  tone,  "  all  thiougli  my  life 
I  liave  been  ashamed  to  do  wrong.  I  eaniiot  think  of  chan- 
ging at  this  hour.  I  should  despise  myseif  for  committing  a 
dishonorable  act.     You  would  not  recommend  me  to  do  so." 

"No,  I  don't  think  I  should,"  answered  the  commis- 
sioner; "but  I  don't  suppose  it  is  dishonorable  to  marry  a 
girl  whom  you  love  and  who  loves  you,  as  I  shall  show  you." 

He  crossed  the  room,  put  his  arm  around  Amelia's  neck, 
and  kissed  her ;  there  being  no  resistance  on  the  lady*s 
part.     I  was  astonished,  and  my  looks  expressed  as  much. 

"  Forgive  me,"  Amelia  said,  in  a  plaintive  tone,  turning 
to  me  as  though  an  apology  was  due  ;  "  but  he  says  that  he 
has  long  loved  me,  and  I  —  I  rather  like  him." 

"  Then  be  happy,  both  of  you,  for  happiness  you  deserve. 
And  to  think  that  I  never  suspected  such  a  thing  !  " 

*'  We'll  be  married  this  very  day ! "  cried  the  commis- 
tuoner ;  "  it's  a  month  sooner  than  we  intended,  but  Amelia 
is  willing." 

The  young  lady  was  heard  to  murmur  something  about 
not  having  a  suitable  dress ;  but  the  remonstrance  was 
drowned  in  a  kiss.  Jenny  saw  this  little  side-play,  and  her 
eyes  sparkled,  and  her  cheeks  flushed.  She  put  one  arm 
around  my  neck,  and  looked  into  my  face  with  such  a  roguish 
glance  that  I  felt  my  heart  melting. 

"  Come,"  she  whispered,  "  let's  get  married  at  the  same 
time  as  them  does." 

"  But  your  father,  Jenny  ! " 

*'  I'd  rather  have  a  husband  than  a  father.  Can't  you  act 
as  both  ? " 

*'  Look  here  !  "  cried  the  stout-hearted  Murden ;  ''  if  you 
lose  time,  you'll  lose  a  wife,  for  Sir  William  will  be  here  in 
a  day  or  two,  and  if  he  has  the  legal  right,  he'll  take  his 
diiughter  to  Melbourne  in  double-quick  time,  and  you'U 
never  see  her  again.  Be  guided  by  your  heart,  and  not  by 
a  nice  sense  of  honor." 


HASTY  WEDDINGS.  477 

*  Be  guided  by  me,"  whispered  Jenny.  "  I  will  not  lead 
you  astray.     I  love  you." 

At  this  instant  a  carriage  dashed  into  the  yard.  I  ran  to 
the  window  in  some  alarm,  for  fear  that  Sir  William  had 
arrived.  To  my  surprise,  I  saw  Mr.  Brown,  the  Bendigo 
commissioner,  dismount,  and  then  help  out  a  venerable  old 
gentleman,  who  wore  a  white  neck-handkerchief  and  black 
coat.  I  took  him  to  be  a  clergyman,  and  I  was  not 
mistaken. 

*''Isent  for  them,"  said  Murden.  "They  are  on  time. 
Fm  to  be  married  within  an  hour.     Will  you  follow  suit  ?  " 

"  Do,"  pleaded  Amelia. 

"  Please  do,"  pleaded  Jenny. 

What  man,  with  ever  so  nice  a  sense  of  honor,  could  stand 
up  against  such  entreaties,  especially  when  his  heart  was 
interested  ?  I  could  not ;  I  loved  the  girl  much  better  than 
I  supposed  I  was  capable  of  loving.  It  was  my  first  pure 
love ;  so  when  she  held  up  her  red  lips  for  me  to  kiss,  and 
once  more  whispered,  "  Do  you  want  to  kill  me  ?  "  I  threw 
my  arms  around  her  slender  waist,  and  pressed  her  to  my 
bosom,  promising  to  unite  my  fate  with  hers  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

"  Hurrah  !  "  shouted  Murden ;  "  the  victory  is  won.  I'll 
send  for  Hopeful,  Smith,  and  Hackett,  immediately.  By 
thunder,  we'll  have  a  jolly  time  of  it !  " 

One  of  the  farm  hands  was  despatched  to  the  mine  to 
call  them,  while  the  ladies  retired  to  change  their  dresses, 
and  get  ready  for  the  ceremony.  Mr.  Brown  rushed  into 
the  room,  as  though  pursued  by  a  whole  gang  of  bushran- 
gers. First  he  shook  hands  with  Murden  and  myself,  and 
kept  up  the  experiment  as  long  as  we  would  consent  to 
guch  an  arrangement.  He  was  in  a  state  of  perpetual 
excitement,  and  perspired  at  every  pore.  Then  we  went 
to  the  dining-room  and  drank  some  wine,  to  keep  our 
courage  up  under  the  trying  ordeal  through  which  we  had  to 
pass  ;  and  by  the  time  we  had  finished  a  bottle,  and  Murden 
,.nd  I  had  changed  our  clothes  for  some  that  were  suitable 
tor  a  wedding,  in  came  our  friends,  wondering,  surprised. 


475  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

and  withal  delighted.  They  couldn't  understand  how  h 
had  been  brought  about,  but  were  pleased  with  the  aspect 
of  affairs.  Smith  hurried  to  the  kitchen,  and  told  the  oc- 
cupants of  it  to  prepare  a  feast  that  would  reflect  credit 
on  the  house.  There  was  to  be  no  stint,  and  expense  was 
not  to  be  regarded ;  and  then  the  honest  fellow  tumbled  up 
tie  stairs  to  consult  his  wife  on  his  dress  and  behavior  on 
the  occasion.  How  she  managed  I  don't  know ;  but  when 
Smith  appeared,  he  had  on  a  white  shirt,  and  a  light  vest, 
gloves,  and  neat  boots  ;  and  I  will  give  him  the  credit  of  say- 
ing that  a  more  uncomfortable  looking  man  I  never  saw 
while  he  was  thus  arrayed.  Presently  the  ladies  sailed 
down  the  stairs,  in  all  the  glory  of  white  dresses,  laces, 
flowers,  and  other  articles  of  feminine  attire,  blushing, 
whimpering,  giggling,  and  whispering  at  the  same  time. 

"  You  first,"  said  Murden,  in  a  whisper  ;  "  my  heart  begins 
to  fail  me." 

He  urged  me  forward,  and  I  found  myself  leading  Jenny 
to  the  minister,  hearing  the  reverend  gentleman  utter  a  few 
words,  being  surrounded,  and  congratulated,  and  wished 
all  manner  of  prosperity ;  and  then  I  awoke  to  the  fact 
that  I  was  married,  and  that  a  handsome  young  lady  was 
standing  by  my  side,  radiant  with  happiness,  youth,  and 
beauty. 

Then  came  Murden's  turn.  He  led  forward  a  tearful 
bride  ;  for  could  Amelia  forget  the  past,  even  while  looking 
forward  to  the  future  with  every  expectation  of  happiness  ? 
But  the  police  commissioner  acted  the  part  of  a  man,  a  ten- 
der, loving  one,  and  did  what  he  could  to  cheer  her,  md 
whispered  words  of  comfort  to  her ;  but  tears  did  not 
cease  to  flow  until  after  the  ceremony  was  completed,  and 
Airs.  Smith  had  folded  her  in  her  arms.  Then  a  smile  ap- 
peared on  her  handsome  face,  and  the  tears  were  dried  up. 
I  stepped  forward,  and  was  about  to  bestow  a  kiss  on  the 
handsome  lips  of  Mrs.  Murden ;  but  Mrs.  Jenn^  laid  her 
gloved  hand  on  my  arm  and  restrained  me. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  interrupt  you  in  your  good  intentions,"  m^ 
handsome  wife  said;  '*  but  be  kind  enough  to  recollect  that 


CONCLUSION.  47* 

yoa  are  a  married  man,  and  that  your  wife  is  rather  fond  of 
kisses,  especially  such  as  you  bestow." 

This  was  the  commencement  of  her  tjTanny  over  me,  and 
she  has  pursued  just  such  a  course  ever  since,  strongly  ob- 
jecting to  my  flirting,  smiling,  or  even  kissing  any  one 
excepting  herself.  Well,  thank  Heaven,  I  have  had  no  in- 
clination to  turn  from  her  sweet  face,  for  I  think  just  as 
much  of  her  now  as  the  day  I  was  married.  Her  lovB  iff 
just  as  valuable  as  then. 

The  day  passed  quickly,  for  we  feasted,  and  planned  for 
the  future,  and  the  ladies  consulted  as  to  what  they  should 
do,  and  what  they  should  wear ;  and  Hopeful  moped  round 
the  house,  and  thought  of  Martha  Poland,  wishing  that 
she  was  near  him,  and  made  queer  remarks  until  it  was  time 
to  retire ;  and  just  as  we  were  debating  the  question,  E-ovei 
gave  a  prolonged  howl,  as  though  something  disagreeable 
was  near,  and  into  the  yard  dashed  a  pair  of  horses  and  a 
carriage. 

"  It's  my  guv'ner,"  murmured  Jenny,  and  drew  near  to 
me,  and  laid  one  of  her  hands  on  my  shoulder. 

There  was  a  thundering  knock  at  the  door.  Smith  opened 
it,  and  in  stalked  Sir  William,  my  wife's  father. 

"  Child,"  he  said,  "  what  is  the  meaning  of  this  ?  " 

"It  means,"  answered  Jenny,  "that  I'm  his  wife,  and 
that  there's  no  use  in  kickin'  up  a  row  ;  so  ji?st  give  us  your 
band,  and  say  no  more  about  it.  I  mean  to  stick  to  him, 
'cos  I  loves  him,  and  that's  all  about  it." 

"  Is  this  true  ? "  asked  the  baronet. 

"  It  is  true.     We  were  united  this  morning,"  I  answered 

Sir  William  breathed  hard,  and  his  eyes  flashed.  For  a 
moment  I  could  not  teU  where  the  lightning  was  to  strike. 
Silence  reigned  in  the  room.  Even  a  sigh  could  be  heard. 
I  was  prepared  for  violence,  but  I  was  not  prepared  for  the 
manner  in  which  Sir  William  held  out  his  hand  and  came 
towards  us. 

"  You  shall  both  have  my  blessing,  although  I  am  disap- 
pointed. But  perhaps  it  is  all  for  the  best."  He  kissed  his 
daughter,  shook  hands  with  me,  with  all  those  present,  and 


480  THE  BUSHRANGERS. 

then  asked  for  something  to  eat,  just  like  the  humblest  of 
mortals. 

The  next  morning  Sir  William  and  I  had  a  long  confer- 
ence. He  made  me  promise  that  Jenny  should  receive  a 
good  education,  that  wC  would  visit  England  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, and  stop  with  him  for  a  long  time  ;  and  that  if  I 
wanted  money  I  would:  draw  on  him  to  any  amount.  Then 
he  took  leave  of  his  daughter  in  an  affectionate  manner,  and 
left  us  to  our  happiness.  I  kept  my  promise,  although  Jenny 
was  too  precious  to  trust  to  a  boarding-school.  I  hired  a 
lady  teacher,  and  she  came  and  lived  with  us,  and  took 
charge  of  Jenny's  education ;  and  such  was  the  progress  of 
my  handsome  wife,  that  in  a  year's  time  she  could  speak 
good  English,  understood  a  little  music,  and  could  read  and 
write  as  readily  as  most  girls  of  her  age.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  stamps  continued  to  work,  and  the  gold  to  flow  into  our 
treasury,  until  we  were  rich  beyond  our  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations. At  last  we  had  enough,  and  then  we  sold  out 
and  left  Australia  for  home,  by  the  way  of  England,  leaving 
Smith  and  his  family,  Murden  and  his  family,  and  Mr.  Brown 
and  his  family,  prosperous  and  happy ;  merchants  of  high 
standing,  for  they  retired  from  the  police  department  soon 
after  my  marriage,  and  succeeded  in  a  more  engaging 
business. 

I  have  no  more  to  relate.  My  wife  received  a  warm, 
tearful  welcome  from  her  mother  and  father,  but  our  son  was 
more  petted  than  the  mother.  I  was  present  when  Hopeful 
was  married  to  Martha  Poland.  He  makes  her  a  good  hus- 
band, and  she  is  all  that  a  wife  should  be.  They  are  the 
happiest  couple  in  Hillsboro'  County,  New  Hampshire. 
Hackett  is  still  in  Australia,  rich,  jolly,  and  a  believer 
in  Illinois  and  its  prosperity.  Hover  is  with  me,  old,  but 
vigorous. 


THOMES'   WORKS, 


The  following-  series  of  Thomes'  very  popular 
Stories  of  Adventure  have  been  published  by 
us.  Each  volume  is  uniform  with  this  in  size  and 
general  appearance.  Dealing,  as  they  do,  with 
Adventure  in  all  its  phases, — on  the  land,  amid 
the  most  reckless  of  miners  and  bushrangers;  on 
the  sea,  amid  the  perils  of  a  bitter  war — they 
afford  a  scope  for  the  development  of  rare  dramat- 
ic power,  and  the  awakening  of  the  readers'  most 
intense  interest. 


THE  GOLD  HUNTERS'  ADVENTURES;  or,  WILD  LIFE  IN 
AUSTRALIA.  Profusely  illustrated  with  about  40  en- 
gravings ;  printed  on  fine  laid,  Nile  green  tinted  paper. 
Price,  -  -  -  -  -  -      $1   50 

THE  BUSHRANGERS  ;  A  YANKEE'S  ADVENTURES  DUR- 
ING HIS  SECOND  VISIT  TO  AUSTRALIA.  Illustrated. 
Printed  on  fine  laid,  Nile  green  tinted  paper.       Price,   i   50 

RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE;   Or,  U.    S.    SECRET  SER- 
VICE ADVENTURES.  Profusely  illustrated.  Printed  on 
fine  laid,  Nile  green  tinted  paper.     Price,  -  i   50 


Sample  pages  of  each  of  the  above  follow  this  leaf. 
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DONNELLEY,  LOYD  &  CO., 


394  LIFE    IN    AUSTRALIA,    OR 

sides  would  be  equally  well  guarded,  then  glanced  over  the  excitec. 
crowd,  in  hopes  that  Dan  would  array  himself  on  our  side  —  but  that 
enterprising  gentleman  had  suddenly  disappeared,  and  left  us  to  om 
fate. 

"  Stand  back,"  shouted  the  inspector ;  "  it  will  be  the  worse  for  you. 
There's  many  of  you  present  who  know  me,  and  know  that  I  have  a 
large  force  of  policemen  on  hand.  If  you  strike  a  blow,  not  one  of  you 
shall  escape  justice. 

*'  Unbar  the  door  as  quickly  as  possible,"  whispered  the'  inspector, 
after  getting  through  with  his  threatening  speech. 

I  lifted  the  heavy  gum  wood  bar  from  its  place,  and  then  raised  the 
latch,  expecting  that  it  would  yield,  but  to  my  surprise  it  did  not  —  it 
was  locked,  and  the  key  in  the  pocket  of  the  doorkeeper,  who  had  made 
his  escape  from  the  room  in  company  with  Dan. 

I  almost  uttered  a  groan  of  agony  when  I  made  the  discovery,  and  to 
add  to  the  perplexity  of  our  situation,  the  ruffians  must  have  understood 
our  case,  and  known  that  the  key  was  never  left  in  the  lock,  for  they 
uttered  a  discordant  and  ironical  hoot,  and  then  a  shout  of  sardonic 
laughter. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  don't  be  all  night  in  getting  that  door  open," 
cried  Fred,  nervously,  and  I  will  confess  that  I  also  partook  of  the  same 
complaint. 

"  Now  for  a  rush  —  cut  them  to  pieces,"  exclaimed  many  voices ;  but 
I  observed  that  the  cries  came  from  those  who  were  farthest  from  us, 
and  out  of  the  reach  of  our  pistols,  which  we  were  forced  to  display,  in 
hope  of  keeping  the  robbers  at  a  respectful  distance. 

"  Is  the  door  unbarred  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Brown,  turning  half  round,  and 
exposing  his  side  to  the  knives  of  the  crowd,  and  quick  as  thought,  a 
man  sprang  forward  to  begin  the  work  of  bloodshed ;  but  sudden  as 
were  his  movements,  they  were  anticipated,  for  I  raised  the  heavy  bar, 
which  I  had  not  relinquished,  and  let  it  fall  upon  his  head  with  crushing 
force. 

The  poor  devil  fell  at  our  feet  without  uttering  a  groan,  although 
many  spasmodic  twitchings  of  his  nerves  showed  that  he  was  not  killed 
outright.  His  long  knife  narrowly  missed  the  side  of  the  inspector,  and 
for  the  first  attempt  at  our  annihilation,  it  was  not  to  be  despised. 

The  wretches  uttered  yells  of  rage  when  they  saw  their  comrade  fall, 
but  none  seemed  inclined  to  assume  the  leadership  and  begin  the  attack 
in  earnest. 

Not  one  of  their  motions  escaped  us,  and  as  long  as  they  were  dis- 
posed to  brandish  their  knives  at  a  distance,  we  did  not  choose  to  carry 
matters  to  extremities ;  but  change  of  tactics  was  suddenly  resorted  to 
on  the  part  of  our  opponents,  that  placed  us  in  no  little  peril. 

All  the  tumblers,  bottles,  and  decanters  uf  the  bar  were  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  the  savage  scoundrels,  and  the  first  intimation  that  we  had 
of  the  fact  was  the  crushing  of  a  bottle  (empty,  of  coursu  —  they  were 
not  the  sort  of  men  to  throw  away  liquor  of  any  kind)  against  the  door, 
just  above  our  heads. 

The  fragments  were  showered  upon  our  faces  and  shoulders,  but 
before  we  had  time  to  consider  on  the  matter  another  bottle  flew  past 
my  head,  and  hit  our  prisoner  upon  one  of  his  shoulders,  injuring 


THE   GOLD   HUNTERS'  ADVENTURES; 

OR,    WILD    LIFE    IN    AUSTRALIA. 

^y  ^'y!-AI"P'"^^'^"*^°''°^'"^^^^"^^'^"g^"'"  "The   Gold   Hunters  in   Europe." 

A  Whaleman's  Adventures,"  "Life  in  the  East  Indies,"  "Adventures   on    a 

Slaver,"  "Running  the  Blockade,"  etc.,  etc. 


>tow  for  a  rusli  —Cut  them  to  pieces'" 
A    FASCINATING    STORY    OF     ADVENTURE 


286  THE   BUSHRA^GERS. 

as  I  turned,  I  managed  to  keep  my  eyes  on  the  shelf  over- 
head, so  that  I  could  note  all  the  movements  that  took  place. 
I  was  repaid  for  my  trouble,  for  as  I  fell  back  and  pressed 
my  hand  on  my  side,  as  though  fatally  wounded,  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  hearing  a  triumphant  laugh  issue  from  the 
thicket  overhead  ;  and  the  next  instant  the  repulsive  features 
of  Moloch  were  thrust  through  the  branches  of  the  trees, 
and  he  seemed  to  enjoy  the  appearance  which  I  presented. 

"  Bah  !  you  fools  !  "  cried  the  rascal,  in  a  mocking  tone, 
"  do  yer  think  that  yer  can  take  me  ?  I  vos  too  quick  for 
yer.  Had  yer  come  an  hour  sooner,  yqr  might  have  caught 
me  nappin'.  But  now  I  jist  spits  at  yer.  Ah,  fools,  I  has 
the  voman,  and  I  means  to  keep  her." 

I  seldom  miss  with  a  revolver,  especially  when  the  object 
at  which  I  aim  is  within  reasonable  distance ;  but  I  must 
confess  that  I  was  nervous  and  full  of  revengeful  feelings,  or 
perhaps  I  was  too  hasty  ;  for  I  suddenly  raised  my  pistol  and 
fired  at  the  fiend  who  was  grinning  at  me  from  amid  the 
branches  of  the  balsam  trees.  I  missed  the  scoundrel,  and 
yet  I  would  have  given  a  thousand  dollars  to  have  sent  a 
bullet  crushing  through  his  brain,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

"  Ho,  ho  !  yer  didn't  come  it,"  laughed  the  fiend.  "  Vait 
a  minute  and  I'll  make  yer  see  somethin'  that'll  open  yer  eyes." 

He  disappeared,  and  while  he  was  gone  I  changed  posi- 
tion, so  that  he  could  not  single  me  out  for  another  shot,  in 
case  he  desired  to  test  his  old  horse-pistols. 

"  You  ain't  hit,  is  you  ?  "  whispered  Hackett  and  Hopeful 
in  anxious  tones. 

"  No,"  I  answered. 

Before  they  could  congratulate  me,  Moloch,  the  devil,  ap- 
peared, bearing  in  his  arms  the  almost  lifeless  form  of  poor, 
dear  Amelia  Copey,  whose  dress  was  torn  and  soiled,  and 
whose  hair  was  hanging  down  in  tangled  masses,  neglected 
and  uncared  for. 

*'  Look  !  "  yelled  the  fiend,  in  a  triumphant  tone  ;  *'  'ere's 
the  gal  vot  I  loves,  and  she  vill  love  me  afore  long,  or  I'll 
know  the  reason  vy." 

As  he  spoke  ho  held  the  fair  form  in  such  a  manur  r  th^i 


THE     BUSHRANGERS. 
A  Yankee's  Adventures  During  His  Second    Visit  to  Australia. 

BY    WM.    H.    THOMES, 

Author  of    ^^Thc  Gold  Hunters  in  Atistralia.''''    '•'The  Bushrangers,'^  '•'■Running  the 
Blockade,  "  etc..  etc. 


Molccll  appeared,  bearing  the  almost  lifeless  form.    "Look,"  yelled  the  fiend,  in  a 
triumphant  tone. 


356  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

one  else."  With  these  words-  the  merchant  took  his 
departure,  and  I  supposed  that  I  should  have  a  moment  to 
myself ;  but  a  noise  on  deck  once  more  aroused  me. 

I  went  on  deck,  and  found  that  Bowmount  had  returned 
accompanied  b}^  a  stout  negro,  whom  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
recognizing  as  Sam,  the  coachman,  who  had  helped  entrap 
me  the  night  I  was  kidnapped  by  John. 

"Do  you  recognize  this  imp?"  asked  the  Kentuck- 
ian ;  and  as  he  spoke  he  cut  the  negro's  legs  with  a  cow- 
hide, w*hich, produced  a  rapid  movement  on  the  part  of 
Sam. 

"  O,  golly,  massa  !  don't  do  dat,"  yelled  the  coachman. 
"  Don't  you  know  dat  it  hurts  ?  O,  my  legs !  Please 
don't  do  so  no  more,  massa." 

And  then  followed  several  blows  and  several  capers. 

"  Do  you  see  this  black  cuss  ?  "  asked  the  Kentuckian, 
suspending  work  for  a  moment,  to  talk  to  me. 

''  Yes,  I  see  him.     I  have  met  the  scamp  before." 

"  And  so  has  I,"  and  here  came  in  another  cut  on  the 
darkey's  legs,  that  made  him  jump  and  howl  with  renewed 
energy. 

"  How  did  you  get  hold  of  him  ?  "  I  asked,  as  soon  as 
the  noise  had  subsided. 

"Mrs.  Gowen  sent  him  to  you,"  was  the  careless 
answer.  Mrs.  Gowen  has  been  on  the  watch  for  the  black 
scamp  ever  since  he  served  you  such  a  trick.  This  after- 
noon he  was  took  while  I  was  at  the  house',  and  she  sent 
him  to  you,  and  says  you  may  do  what  you  like  with  him. 
If  you  takes  my  advice,  you  will  give  him  two  or  three 
dozen,  and  then  send  him  to  the  city  jail,  whar  they'll  give 
him  as  much  more." 

"  For  de  Lord's  sake,  don't  do  dat,"  cried  Sam.  "  Dis 
nig  is  almost  cut  to  pieces  now.  Him  legs  is  one  mess  of 
rings." 

I  began  to  have  mercy  on  the  fellow,  although  he  did 


RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE; 

OR,    U.    S.    SECRET    SERVICE    ADVENTURES. 

By  WM.  H.   THOMES,  Author  of  '■'The  Gold  Hunters'  Adventures  in   Australia,' 
'"'The  Bushrangers,''  '"''Running  the  Blockade^''  etc.,  etc. 


ELEGANTLY    AND    PROFUSELY    ILLUSTRATED. 


'For  de  Lord's  sake,  don't  do  dat.    Dis  iiig  is  almost  cut  to  pieces  now.    Him  legs 
is  one  mass  of  rings." 


The  Most  Thrilling  Detective  Story 

EVER    PUBLISHED    IN    THIS    COUNTRY. 


"Before  you  drink    *    *    hear  how  Clarence  Arteveldt  won  his  wife. 


SHADOAVED    BY    THREE 


BY    LAWRENCE    L.    LYNCH. 


The  book  conuins  FIFTY-FIVE  ORIGINAL  ILLUSTRATIONS,  of  which  the  above  is  a 
specimen.  The  story  Itself  IS  so  intensely  interesting,  that  when  one  has  reached  about 
the  third  chapter,  he  wholly  forgets  that  he  is  merely  reading  a  book,  but  instead,  becomes 
carried  away  by  the  spirit  of  the  writer,  and  is  for  the  time  an  actual  participant  in  the 
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